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Mummy with no secrets - Identification, estimation of postmortem interval and detection of morphine: Case of mummification in a domestic environment

Rechtsmedizin, ISSN: 0937-9819, Vol: 23, Issue: 6, Page: 485-491
2013
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In 2010 the mummified corpse of a 25-year-old male drug user was found in his apartment after a 2-year postmortem interval and had died just after being released from an 11-month prison sentence. The initial postmortem examination revealed skeletization and advanced stage mummification. The autopsy revealed surprisingly well preserved thigh muscles in addition to disintegration of the parenchymatous organs and nearly complete desiccation. The comprehensive toxicological investigations provided evidence of morphine (0.41 ng/mg in hair, 0.05 μg/g in muscle, 1.95 μg/g in liver, 0.54 μg/g in kidneys, 70 ng/g in bone and 7.57 ng/g in bone marrow), 6-acetylmorphine (0.15 ng/mg in hair) and codeine (0.05 ng/mg in hair and 0.01 μg/g in muscle) due to heroin consumption. The concentrations measured in the postmortem specimens indicated lethal heroin intoxication and the distribution ratio of the concentrations contributed to clarifying the cause of death. The state of preservation of the body, the scope of investigations and the results make the case just as newsworthy as the rarity of comparable cases. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

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