An Unusual Drug Death Involving Maggots
作者:
Barry Levine,
Mario Golle,
John Smialek,
期刊:
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
(OVID Available online 2000)
卷期:
Volume 21,
issue 1
页码: 59-61
ISSN:0195-7910
年代: 2000
出版商: OVID
关键词: Maggots;Drug-related death
数据来源: OVID
摘要:
Toxicologic analysis of decomposed specimens provides greater analytical challenges than those encountered with fresh postmortem specimens. Despite the difficulties involved, in cases in which the cause of death is not determined at autopsy or when there is a strong indication of drug intoxication, all reasonable steps must be undertaken to perform as comprehensive a drug screen as possible. An unidentified white male was found in a field near a river. The body was decomposed and skeletonized, and 3- to 4-mm maggots were present on the body. Near the body was an empty bottle of secobarbital that had been prescribed to a female. There was no evidence of injury. Calf muscle and maggots were sent for toxicologic analysis. No volatile substances or drugs were detected in the calf muscle. Because intoxication due to secobarbital was strongly suggested from the scene investigation, the only other specimen available, the maggots, were tested for acid-neutral drugs. Secobarbital was identified by retention time and was confirmed by full-scan electron ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Based on the available information, the medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was secobarbital intoxication and the manner of death was suicide.
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