NCJ Number
187627
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2001 Pages: 386-388
Date Published
March 2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This paper describes an unusual case of suicidal ligature strangulation while the victim was in custody.
Abstract
The decedent was a 42-year-old white male in Federal custody awaiting trial on bank robbery charges. During a routine cell check, the prisoner was noted to be on the bottom bunk of a metal bunk bed, positioned supine, and appeared to be sleeping. The guard noticed a large amount of water on the cell floor near the doorway. Investigation revealed that the water was coming from a black plastic rectangular tub that was partially filled with water and located beneath the head of the metal bunk. One end of the tub was hanging from the underside of the bottom bunk where the head of the prisoner lay. Closer examination showed that the prisoner was dead, with a thin gauge wire wrapped around his neck; the wire extended through round holes in the metal bunk and suspended one end of the partially water-filled plastic tub. The 55 inch thin gauge wire ligature was fastened through one of the handles of the plastic tub with a small piece of black hard plastic. The other end of the wire appeared to be broken and was no longer attached to the tub. In addition, a makeshift water reservoir was found suspended from the underside of the upper bunk and consisted of two large plastic trash bags inside of a white cotton mesh laundry bag. These bags were empty at the time of discovery of the body. A spout was found in the inner plastic trash bag that consisted of the following: an outermost piece that was an empty toothpaste tube with the seal at the wide end of the tube opened; a toothpaste tube cap with the end of the cap hollowed out; the plastic barrel of a ball point pen; the ball point pen cap with the end of the cap removed; and a piece of coated paper wrapped around the spout to protect against leakage. The pen cap was placed on the empty plastic pen barrel and inserted through the hollowed out toothpaste tube cap, which was then screwed onto the opened toothpaste tube that was inside the plastic trash bag. The assembled spout was then placed through one of the round holes in the head end of the metal bunk to deliver water into the tub beneath, thus creating progressive tension on the attached wire ligature and progressive strangulation. A brief review of the relevant literature follows the description of this case. 5 figures and 6 references