Strangulation deaths
Strangulation deaths refer to fatalities caused by the intentional application of pressure to the neck, which restricts blood flow or oxygen supply to the brain. This act is often associated with violent crimes, including murder, domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. Strangulation can lead to severe consequences such as loss of consciousness, brain damage, or death, with fatalities potentially occurring within minutes or even days if internal injuries go untreated. The signs of strangulation can be subtle, and while external injuries may not always be visible, significant internal damage may occur.
Recognizing the signs of strangulation is critical for healthcare providers and law enforcement, as it can inform immediate medical treatment and help establish the circumstances surrounding a crime. Key indicators include difficulty breathing, neck swelling, petechial hemorrhaging, and other symptoms that signal possible brain injury. Overall, understanding the implications of strangulation is vital for preventing future violence and ensuring effective responses to victims' needs.
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Strangulation deaths
DEFINITION: Intentional act of applying pressure to a body part to cut off or restrict the flow of blood or air, resulting in loss of consciousness, injury, brain damage, or death.
SIGNIFICANCE: Strangulation is a deliberate criminal act that takes place during such crimes as murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. Recognition of the signs of strangulation can aid forensic pathologists in determining cause of death and can help first responders get proper treatment for surviving victims.
Strangulation is used by a perpetrator to silence or kill the victim. Strangulation typically occurs during criminal acts such as child abuse, domestic violence, or sexual assault or rape. Non-fatal strangulation is considered a warning sign of possible future intent to commit homicide. According to data from the online database website Statista, strangulation was the cause of death in twenty homicides in the United States in 2022.
The act of strangulation entails applying pressure to a person's neck to reduce or stop blood flow to the brain or restrict oxygen in an airway. The brain needs oxygen to survive. Without oxygen, a person may lose consciousness, sustain brain injury or brain damage, or die. The perpetrator may use either their hands or an object such as a rope or cord to force restriction of oxygen at the victim’s neck.
Only eleven pounds of pressure applied to the neck for ten seconds are necessary to restrict oxygen enough to cause unconsciousness. Death can occur in four to five minutes with thirty pounds of pressure to the neck. Death can also result within thirty-six hours after strangulation if internal neck swelling is not diagnosed or treated.
After strangulation, injuries to the body may or may not be visible, but internal injuries could have resulted. Internal neck swelling is serious because it can jeopardize the airway passage needed for breathing. Persons who have been strangled and sustained no visible injuries have been known to die several weeks after strangulation as the result of undiagnosed brain damage. For these reasons, it is extremely important for first responders to ask crime victims if they were strangled, with or without loss of consciousness.
Signs of strangulation that should prompt medical attention include petechial hemorrhaging of the skin or mucous membranes, bloodred eyes, neck swelling (subtle to severe), difficulty swallowing or breathing, vomiting blood, voice loss or raspy voice, coughing, and neck pain. Other signs that a person has been strangled include rope or cord burns, red vertical or horizontal line marks on the skin, scratches and bruises on the neck, and symptoms of brain injury, such as confusion, memory problems, mood changes, or personality changes. It is imperative that investigators carefully document and photograph any signs of strangulation injury.
Bibliography
"The Investigation and Prosecution of Strangulation Cases." Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, 2013, www.strangulationtraininginstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/California-Strangulation-Manual‗web3.pdf. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
"Number of Murder Victims in the United States in 2022, by Weapon Used." Statista, 5 July 2024, www.statista.com/statistics/195325/murder-victims-in-the-us-by-weapon-used/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Spitz, Werner U., and Daniel J. Spitz, editors. Spitz and Fisher’s Medicolegal Investigation of Death: Guidelines for the Application of Pathology to Crime Investigation. 4th ed., Charles C. Thomas, 2006.
Strack, Gael B. How to Improve Your Investigation and Prosecution of Strangulation Cases. With George McClane, updated ed., National Family Justice Center Alliance, Sept. 2007. VAWnet.org, vawnet.org/material/how-improve-your-investigation-and-prosecution-strangulation-cases. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.