Suicidal hanging resulting in decapitation: A case report and review of the literature

- A comparison between a case of suicidal hanging resulting in incomplete decapitation and cases found in the literature.
- No statistical difference was found between Ek and Speed in incomplete versus complete decapitation in suicidal hanging.
- The elasticity of the rope and the type of knot may influence whether the decapitation is complete or incomplete in hanging.
- Various signs found from the autopsy and in the environment next to the body point toward the suicide.

Decapitation following suicidal hanging is rarely encountered in forensic practice. The authors report a case of suicidal hanging resulting in decapitation following a fall of 5 m. This case is compared with 30 cases found in the literature. Several factors including type of rope, skin abrasion, level of the severed vertebrae, thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone injuries and vital signs are studied. The force applied to the neck and the kinetic energy were calculated. The kinetic energy (ranging from 1820 to 7310 J) takes into account the weight of the victim but also the length of the rope (height of the fall). The speed of the body as it is stopped by the rope ranged between 6.49 and 14.01 m s−1.