Chlorprothixene in bodies after exhumation

Toxicological analyses on body tissues and interpretation of results after exhumation are a challenging task. We report five cases in which toxicological analyses had to be performed due to suspicion of homicide by chlorprothixene intoxication. Exhumations had to be carried out following post mortem intervals in earth graves between two and five and a half years. Chlorprothixene and in some cases also its metabolites could be detected in liver and brain. For the interpretation of the results, chlorprothixene concentrations determined in brain should be used because of a relative isolation of the brain within the skull. However, a loss of organ weights due to post mortem degradation, which may lead to an increase of drug levels, should be taken into account.