Unusual Gunshot Death and Contribution of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in Determination of Manner of Death – Case Report

Authors: Stojanović I and Antović A

DOI: 10.23880/ijfsc-16000428

Volume 9, Issue 4

Abstract

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) represents the examination of the shapes, sizes, locations and distribution of bloodstains in order to provide an interpretation of the events that caused their uprise. The purpose of BPA is to draw conclusions about the nature, timing and other details of the crime. When it comes to firearm fatalities, the main goal of forensic analysis is to distinguish firearm suicides from homicides and accidents. We present a case of a 48–year man who was found in his camper with a gunshot wound on the chest. At first glance, it looked like a homicide, because of the fact that the bullet was not found, because of unusual position of death body and unusual distribution and amount of bloodstains. The autopsy revealed the entrance wound on the front and the exit wound on the back side of the chest, with heart injury. BPA in synergy with autopsy report revealed that gunshot took place in camper while a deceased was on a back seat of his vehicle in sitting position. Both front and back slide doors were closed at time of discharge and subsequent bleeding, and there was no void in bloodstains to indicate presence of second person. Finally, it was concluded that the manner of death of the deceased was suicide. According to obtained results from expertise re-examination of the vehicle resulted in finding a bullet in a back-window rubber seal.

Keywords: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis; Gunshot; Suicide

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