Crime Reconstruction of a Homicidal Death Masqueraded as Drowning: A Case Report

Authors

  • V. Agrawal Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. Author
  • V.K. Chouksey Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. Author
  • N.S. Patel Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. Author
  • N. Sabu Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. Author
  • A.S. Manjhi Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. Author

Keywords:

Homicide, Drowning, Forensic pathology, Blunt force trauma, Ligature mark

Abstract

In the absence of eye witnesses, crime scene examination along with other corroborative evidences, and a meticulous autopsy, are of prime importance in solving the crime.1 With ever increasing knowledge availability to people, fear of conviction and evolving technologies, people are trying to showcase the crime in other ways.2 The disposal of murdered corpse in water is by no means uncommon, as it provides a convenient means of concealing the body, of transporting it from the scene of the crime by means of currents in river or sea, and if discovery is delayed – of preventing identity by postmortem decay and damage.3 This case report presents a suspected drowning that, upon thorough investigation and autopsy, was revealed to be a homicide. Mesh terms: Homicide; Drowning; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Asphyxia; Forensic Pathology; Crime Scene Investigation; Autopsy; Head Injuries.

References

1. Neha S, Singh KP, Devi TM. Crime reconstruction in a hit and run over case masquerading as accidental drowning. IP Int J Forensic Med Toxicol Sci. 2023;8(3):121–3.

2. Pydi HS, Rao PU. A study on various methods adopted for masquerading murders. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2016;38(1):39.

3. Knight B, Saukko PJ. Knight's forensic pathology. 4th ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press;2016.

4. Reddy KSN, Murty OP. The essentials of forensic medicine and toxicology. 35th ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2022.

5. Mittal P, Sharma B. Masquerading of homicidal strangulation as roadside accident –A case report. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2023;45(3):267–73.

6. Lignitz E. Disposal of corpses, dismemberment of corpses, mutilation of corpses. In: Brinkmann B, Madea B, editors. Handbuch gerichtliche Medizin. Berlin: Springer; 2004. p. 210–35.

7. Prajapati P, Sheikh MI, Patel S. A study of homicidal deaths by mechanical injuries in Surat, Gujarat. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2010;32(2):134–8.

8. World Health Organization. Drowning fact sheet [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017 May [cited 2017 Dec 1]. Available from

10. Karger B, Schneider V. Forensic significance of the pathophysiology of drowning. Forensic Sci Int. 2004; 144(2–3):183–90.

11. Pollanen MS. The forensic pathology of drowning. In: Tsokos M, editor. Forensic pathology reviews. Vol. 4. Totowa: Humana Press; 2006. p. 61–77.

12. Madea B. Importance of crime scene in interpretation of postmortem findings. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2015;11(1):1–4.

13. Moorthy NT. Suspicious death – Crime scene evidence indicated the cause of death: An interesting multiple death case report. Int J Med Toxicol Leg Med. 2019;22(1– 2):5. : https://www.who.int/newsroom/fact-sheets/detail/drowning

9. DiMaio VJ, DiMaio D. Forensic pathology. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2001.

Downloads

Published

2026-07-24

How to Cite

Crime Reconstruction of a Homicidal Death Masqueraded as Drowning: A Case Report. (2026). MP Journal of Medical Sciences, 1(1), 63-65. https://mpjms.com/index.php/mpjms/article/view/15