Source (University of Niš Faculty of Medicine)
News article
Fig 1: Extensive necrosis of the gastric mucosa (arrows pointing to a sharp border to the esophagus and pylorus).
Fig 2: a) Corrosive lesions of the lower pulmonary lobes due to acid aspiration; b) Necrotic and hemorrhagic areas of the pulmonary cutting surfaces.
Fig 3: Subcutaneous hematoma of the nasal, frontal and parietal region.
Fig 4: Corrosive burns of the oral mucosa.
Fig 5: Corrosive burns of the facial skin.
Fig 6: General appearance of the corpse before autopsy.


Twenty-four hours later, a 20-year-old female had been reported missing, her body was found floating in a semi-frozen local lake. The last time she was seen alive accompanied by her exintimate partner with whom she had recently ended the relationship. Under the suspicion of a homicide, the investigative authorities ordered a judicial autopsy to find the cause and manner of the death

A standard complete forensic autopsy was performed 12 hours after the discovery of the corpse. The corpse was wrapped in a sleeping bag. Before the autopsy, a detailed inspection of the victim’s clothing did not show any defects or damage. The deceased was a young female aged about 20 years (Figure 6).

External examination of the body revealed the signs of immersion (pale and sodden body skin, macerated hands and feet skin, bright reddish hypostasis). The most prominent findings were multiple irregularly shaped grayish-white colored corrosive burns on the lips, nose, eyelids, and cheeks (Figure 5, Figure 4). There was also a recent skin hematoma in the nasal, orbital and forehead region, without facial bone fractures. Careful preparation of the skin and under-lying soft tissue from the skull revealed the presence of dark grayish discoloration of the subcutaneous nasal tissues and subcutaneous hematoma of the frontal and parietal region (Figure 3). The opening of the rib cage and abdominal cavity revealed an unpleasant smell of the strong pungent odor. The oral cavity, esophageal and tracheal mucosal surfaces were swollen with grayish discoloration. A
large amount of liquid spumescent brownish fluid filled the tracheal and bronchial cavities. The lungs were swollen and firm. Widespread necrotic and hemorrhagic areas dominated at the cutting surface of the lower pulmonary lobes (Figure 2). The
stomach was softened, distended and without perforations.

The gastric cavity contained about 150 ml of a tar-like dense content and about 50 ml of turbid brownish liquid with an acidic reaction to pH paper. A whole surface of the gastric mucosa demonstrated marked blackish discoloration of extensive necrosis, sharply edged by the pylorus from an intact intestinal mucosa (Figure 1). The blood in the heart chambers and great vessels was in the liquid state. The other internal organs were preserved well without any significant pathological findings. The sections from internal organs were sampled for routine histological preparation. Tissue specimens, gastric content, femoral blood, vitreous humor and urine samples were collected for toxicology analysis.

Microscopically, coagulation necrotic lesions of the esophageal and tracheal mucosa were prominent, as well as the extensive gastric mucosal hemorrhagic necrosis. Histological findings of the affected parts of lung tissue showed widespread necrotic and hemorrhagic zones surrounded by collapsed alveoli. The tissue specimens of unaltered areas showed bronchial epithelial degeneration and severe pulmonary edema.

The pH value of the sampled gastric contents was 0.76, detected by digital pH meter (with a range from -2.00 to 16.00 and accuracy of ±0.01 pH). The pH of femoral vein blood sample was 5.98. A complete toxicology analysis revealed no evidence of any toxic substances or drugs.

Based on the autopsy findings, it was concluded that the death case was violent by nature and caused by acute corrosive injury, particularly to the stomach and lungs, due to ingestion and aspiration of an acid. Characteristic appearance of
skin and mucosal lesions indicate specific effects on tissues produced by HCl. Detection of the head trauma, absence of defensive injuries, as well as the circumstances related to the finding of the corpse, pointed to the homicidal origin of this death.