The anthropological assessment not only confirmed the findings from the scene investigation and the autopsy examination, it also revealed, after the skull was reconstructed, how the bilateral placement and simultaneous ignition of the two blasting caps produced extensive cranial damage with characteristics similar to a high-velocity gunshot trauma. In this case, the blasting caps had fuse wire leads that were electrically initiated by means of a power strip. The explosive compounds within the blasting caps were sufficiently powerful to shatter completely the cranial vault and obliterate some portions of the cranium. The explosion waves from the blasting caps instantaneously caused an enormous increase in intracranial pressure from two directions. The evidence to support high-velocity trauma consisted of the outward lifting and displacement of bone fragments, internal beveling, extensive fragmentation, and fracturing with little or no permanent deformation. High-velocity gunshot wounds also produce these characteristics, but in addition, metal fragments are commonly found embedded in the bone and/or soft tissue, along with bullet wipe and powder soot. These characteristics were not found in the current case; however, without the crime-scene evidence that indicated blasting cap suicide, the trauma characteristics might have been misinterpreted as being caused by a through-and-through high-velocity gunshot wound with no accompanying artifacts. The article describes the case background and trauma analysis in detail. 4 figures and 5 references