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Appearance of Chemical Burns Resulting from the Washing of a Deceased Body with Bleach
Author(s) -
Adair Thomas W.,
Dobersen Michael J.,
LearKaul Kelly
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00410.x
Subject(s) - bleach , medical emergency , poison control , medicine , forensic engineering , engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry
ABSTRACT: The authors report on a case of postmortem washing of a body with bleach. An adult female victim was found nude in an alleyway with both hands removed in the City of Westminster, CO. Cause of death was attributed to severe blunt force trauma to the head. The victim had been dumped in the alleyway within 7 h of discovery. Evidence discovered at the crime scene and autopsy indicated that the murder and subsequent washing of the body with bleach occurred at a secondary location(s). The victim was wet to the touch, presenting a strong odor of bleach. Several “ribbon”‐like burn patterns were observed on the victim's back and upper thighs. These burn marks were replicated by dowsing a deceased pig with an over‐the‐counter concentration of bleach.