Suicide by drowning after two gunshots to the head

Abstract

Differentiation between suicide and homicide can be problematic for forensic pathologists, especially when a complex method of suicide is used by the victim. Multiple gunshot suicides have been previously reported in the forensic literature. However, multiple gunshots combined with other suicidal methods are rare. In this article the authors report the unusual case of a floating body recovered from a river, with two gunshot wounds to the head. The autopsy showed that both gunshot wounds were non-lethal and the cause of death was attributed to drowning. Though homicide was strongly suspected at first, the manner of death was later established as suicide.