Journal List > Korean J Leg Med > v.38(3) > 1087945

Ha, Lim, Kim, Park, Yang, Kim, and Kim: A Case of Dyadic Death Associated with Helium Gas: An Autopsy Case Report

Abstract

A 39-year-old man, his 35-year-old wife, and their 13-year-old daughter were found dead in their home. The man and his daughter were found lying in her bedroom, with his head wrapped in a plastic bag connected to four helium gas cylinders by green polypropylene tubes. Fragments of the burnt ignition briquette were found in the bucket located at her feet. His wife was found in a decomposed state lying on her right side in her bedroom. Autopsy findings for the man were unremarkable except for cherry pink lividity; the blood carboxyhemoglobin concentration was 73%. Autopsy findings were unremarkable for the woman as well, except for a few petechial hemorrhages and conjunctival congestion. The daughter showed no definite abnormalities; howev-er, her blood and lung contained helium gas. The deceased man's suicide note, evidence gathered at the scene, and postmortem examination revealed that this was a case of dyadic death.

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Fig. 1.
The man and his daughter were lying along in her bedroom, with his head wrapped in a plastic bag connected with four helium gas cylinders by green polypropylene tubes (a). Fragments of burnt ignition briquette were seen in the bucket located at his daughter's feet (b).
kjlm-38-121f1.tif
Fig. 2.
His wife was lying on right side and decomposed in her bedroom.
kjlm-38-121f2.tif
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