The deaths were all recorded by the coroners or medical examiners from the provinces from 1974-87. The two groups were matched by province, year of death (within 3 years), and method of asphyxiation. The comparison of the death scenes revealed major differences between the two groups, with nudity of the body, evidence of a wide range of sexual activity at the time of death, and absence of verbal or written indication of suicidal intent being characteristics of the autoerotic asphyxia group. The data indicate that autoerotic asphyxia and suicidal asphyxia can usually be readily distinguished by features of the death scene. Tables and 41 references