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Asphyxial Deaths Due to Hanging in Children

NCJ Number
141738
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1993) Pages: 344-352
Author(s)
M A Clark; J D Feczko; D A Hawley; J E Pless; L R Tate; P M Fardal
Date Published
1993
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Records on 12 hanging deaths in children under the age of 13 from the coroner's offices in Marion County, Indiana, and Franklin County, Ohio, between 1985 and 1990 were reviewed.
Abstract
The age range was 2 1/2 to 24 years; 10 of the victims were male. There were three unequivocal suicides, five accidental deaths, and four incidents in which the cause of death remained undetermined. A recurrent problem in the questionable cases was lack of information concerning the ligature, knot, and details of suspension. The scene and autopsy findings from these incidents are presented. The sample included no homicidal hangings and no deaths resulting from autoerotic sexual asphyxia. Petechial hemorrhages were found to be a hallmark of asphyxial death and were often observed above the ligature furrow in hangings. In general, petechiae are reported less commonly in children than in adults with no explanation. Recently, petechiae have been reported in victims of non-asphyxial death who were given prolonged CPR. 3 tables, 1 figure, and 9 references

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