Electrocution Death: Exit Mark Injury use in the Suggestion of Body

Posture during Forensic Investigation

Pudji Hardjanto

1,4

Simon Martin Manyanza Nzilibili

1,3

Ahmad Yudianto

1,2

Forensic Science Program, Post Graduate School Universitas Airlangga, 4-6 Airlangga Rd., 60286 Surabaya – Indonesia.

Department of Forensic and Medico-legal, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya – Indonesia

Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender Elderly and Children, Dodoma – Tanzania.

Criminal Investigative Unit, Polrestabes Surabaya, Indonesia.

Keywords: Body Posture, Electrocution, Exit Injury, Forensic Reconstruction

Abstract: Since then, electrocution and forensic investigation of electric death associated with criminal offenses have

established the importance of mark injuries. The marks (entry and exit) came into significance as they

were/are used to establish fatality and extent of electric power electrocuted. Unlike entry, exit injury has

presented attention to scientists on its adequate and vital use in explaining forensic incident despite being

infrequent. To enrich forensic understanding and make use of this “silent witness – exit mark”, this study

used four cases of related scenario. Three of the four cases were literature-based cases and one case

involved in investigation. By interpreting the cases, this paper argued that exit injury contains useful

information that can be related to posture of the body before electrocution. This paper thereby suggested the

presence of the exit injury to be related to body posture, sole plantar exit injury in particular (stood

position). This would help investigators and scientists to determine the immediate probable position and

state of victim before electrocution. Furthermore, the suggestion would assist reconstruction processes that

seek to find out the event originality through responding to fundamental and core principle tools of

incidence investigation, CoPRRR, and the 6Ws.

1 BACKGROUND

Exit marks as to entry injury marks are common and

crucial findings to establish electrocution associated

deaths (Kumar et al. 2015; Kuhtic et al. 2012). On

the occurrences of these injuries, together with mark

entry and exit of encountered electric flow, the

energy is converted in burning or shocking to the

body. Location of occurrence is indefinable as

depending on contact of conduction but palm and

sole (plantar) are the common parts found with these

marks, exit being on sole and entry primarily on

palm. Though these two marks occur together, still

there are some affirmations which have been

established that exit injury can occasionally occur

without the presence and occurrence of entry marks

(Guntheti et al. 2012). That is, only exit injury mark

observation is found in just few cases that are rare to

meet in electrocution scenario. Its fatality in

appearance may present similar to entry but its

peculiarity is on a more tissue damage, skin splits

and raising (Rao n.d.).

Apart from establishing fatality of the event

occurred due to electrocution, a possibility of

understanding body positioning or gesture during

electric conduction may be suggested and explored.

This is from the fact of potential resistance provided

at particular body surface. According to

(Manigandan et al. 2014), the amount current

expected for passage depend on the resistance

provided by the body or body part. Thus, in return,

the extent of injuries to be caused proportionate the

magnitude passed. Body positioned in standing

while contacting ground or non-standing with free

contact dictate the electric conduction to formation

of exit wounds in plantar. This approach might

reveal and ease the reconstruction of events in

forensic investigation.

1.1 Justification and Purpose

Despite that exit marks in electrocution are

discussed to have substantial use in establishing

fatality forensic proof, limited studies have

Hardjanto, P., Nzilibili, S. and Yudianto, A.

Electrocution Death: Exit Mark Injury Use in the Suggestion of Body Posture during Forensic Investigation.

DOI: 10.5220/0007545704930498

In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference Postgraduate School (ICPS 2018), pages 493-498

ISBN: 978-989-758-348-3

493

enumerated the sign and even yet related to body

posture sustained before electric accident. This

study, therefore, suggested the posture/gesture of the

body before the electrocution in relation to exit

injury in order to help reconstruction during forensic

investigation. Also, to contribute on the knowledge

of rare occurring exit injury marks.

2 METHOD

The study reviewed three previously published cases

and presented an analysis of the encountered case to

make a discussion of four cases in total. Both

reviews of the cases and the encountered case in

place were analysed to generate suggestive findings.

Findings presented are based on; external

examination of the dead body, internal observation,

post-mortem, and autopsy findings, and also crime

scene study findings focusing on exit marks and

body gesture relation.

3 ELECTROCUTION AND MARK

INJURIES REVIEW

The term electrocution is referred to death caused by

electric shock. This is a sudden violent response to

electric current flow to any part of a person's body.

That violent response causes either primary

electrical injury - tissue damage produced directly

by electrical voltage or secondary injuries, such as

thrown falls, are common (Fish & Geddes 2009).

Death occurs when a sufficient amount of current

passes through body parts by contact with electric

equipments, frayed cords, poorly insulated wires,

ungrounded electric instruments, and working in

electric posts without any protective guard (Fish &

Geddes 2009). The damages or burns caused due to

contact are generally referred to as entrance and exit

wounds. The kind of injuries according to (Fish &

Geddes 2009; Kuhtic et al. (2012) sometimes get

misleading interpretation to gunshot wounds by

absence of bullet exit wound due to logging.

As pointed out earlier, these marks are essential

to the establishment of electrocution deaths and

become serious in forensic investigation where

criminal offence is inquired from the scenario. The

encountered obstacle in investigation might be

interrupted by a poor definition or absence of those

mark as explained in (Parakkattil et al. 2017). The

study institutes that the difficult of investigating

electrocution fatality cases are dependant of voltage.

That is, high voltage electrocution burns resemble

burns caused by other sources, especially if the

person survives for few days. In that case,

circumstantial evidence in correlation with the

autopsy findings helps in determining the cause and

manner of death. Crime scene findings also help to

explain the pattern of injuries observed at autopsy in

addition to contact-related features together with

clinical signs that rule out current flow (Fish &

Geddes 2009).

The literature discussion has also considered skin

resistance (impedance), internal body resistance,

current path through the body, the let-go

phenomenon, skin breakdown, electrical stimulation

of skeletal muscles and nerves, cardiac

dysrhythmias, arrest, and electric shock drowning.

From which, the high-voltage burns include ground

faults, ground potential gradient, step and touch

potentials, arcs, and lightning remain essential. As

whole, incorporate the mechanism of electric current

in the body; how and why specific accidents occur

and what medical and surgical problems might be

expected in reaching the manner and cause of death

(Fish & Geddes 2009; Guntheti et al. 2012).

However; the occurrence of deaths due to

electrocution continue to be infrequent and so to

incidence of the injury marks. This lowered

tendency continues to qualify the virtual accidental

nature of these kind of death from self-execute,

suicides nature, and homicides to those executed

entirely by alternating current (Wick & Byard 2009).

The lowered prevalence and incidence

occurrence is also perpetuated by general preventive

measures taken with time for electric safety usage.

Remained fatalities occasion according to (Guntheti

et al. 2012) with other literature still continue to

reveal palmer as the commonest site for entry wound

and crease fold of hands. The inference is that the

commonest site of exit wound is feet, the sole. The

study also concludes to four patterns of electrical

injuries: entry wound alone, exit alone, both and

flash burns, and no external typical signs with

accidental nature and manner of electrocution. In

this study; four cases are discussed. Three from

literature and compared to one involved in

investigation making a total of four. The analysis

was made according the purpose of the aimed

benefit above.

3.1 Literature Selected Case

Presentation

The discussion of case one and two was obtained

from the study named “Fatal High Voltage

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Accidental Electrocution – Two Case Reports”

where the author discussed cases of high voltage

(Manigandan et al. 2014). With other danger

encountered the two cases, this article narrated and

discussed sustained injuries of whether presence or

absence of exit injury marks;

3.1.1 Case Presentation 1

According to the article; the first case victim was a

14 years old boy who was referred to hospital

casualty after sustaining electric shock while bird-

nesting in an electric pole 20 feet higher from the

ground. In hospital, the boy survived for 6 hours

only after. The investigations reported biochemical

within normal ranges. Autopsy reveal reported

multiple burnt and punched out lesions on left half

of the trunk, inner aspect of left upper limb and inner

aspect of both thighs including the genital region as

presented in Figure 1. Head dissection reported

fracture of left temporal and parietal bones.

Underlying the fracture extradural haemorrhage with

blood clot weighing around 20 grams was also

reported. Brain below the extradural haemorrhage

was depressed with contusion of the left side

temporal lobe (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Multiple burnt and punched out lesions

involving trunk and genitalia (accessed from (Manigandan

et al. 2014))

3.1.2 Case Presentation 2

Case reported a victim of 40 years old lineman who

sustained electric shock and burn injuries while

repairing high tension wires. The report narrates

that; the victim was wearing a cotton shirt, and it

caught fire during the incident. Autopsy revealed

that burn injuries over front of chest, abdomen and

anterior aspect of both thighs. A charred and deeply

scorched electric mark was found over the lateral

aspect of the right index finger that suggested entry

wound. Multiple exit wounds reported on both feet

and over the pulps of all toes of the right foot. Also,

burn area of size 6x3.5 cm was on plantar aspect of

the right foot due to tissue heating up as appears in

figure 2, keratin dissolution and separation of

epidermal layers. The report continued with a deeply

scorched wound over the medial aspect of left foot

(Fig 3). Cranial cavity examination reported

extradural haemorrhage on left parieto-temporal

area, diffuse subarachnoid haemorrhage in the left

cerebral hemisphere along with contusion of the

temporal lobe without any fracture of the skull.

Figure 2: Multiple exit wounds on right foot (accessed

from (Manigandan et al. 2014))

3.1.3 Case Presentation 3

Report case three is obtained from the study named

“Electrocution Method to Conceal Homicide: A

Rare Case Report” where the author discussed a

homicidal death with post-mortem electrocution

injuries concealment (Jambure et al. 2012). The

paper reported a case of male victim, 45 years old

with history of accidental electrocution while

ironing.

3.1.3.1 External Autopsy Examination;

External examination reported moderate built body,

56 kilograms of weight, 158 centimeters height with

congested face. Conjunctivae petechial haemorrhage

with bleeding on left ear. Neck found with multiple

finger tip contusions and nail scratch abrasions on

thyroid region over anterior and both lateral aspect,

reddish in colour. Irregular, reddish, and abraded

contusion over left forehead and burn injury over

right forearm dorsal aspect. Electric burns over

dorsum little finger, middle finger and dorsum of left

hand. Two electric burns over right palm (Figure 3).

Electrocution Death: Exit Mark Injury Use in the Suggestion of Body Posture during Forensic Investigation

495

Figure 3: Electric burns over right palm (accessed from

(Jambure et al. 2012))

3.1.3.2 Internal Autopsy Examination;

In the neck, there was found contusion over strap

muscles on sides, thyroid and cricoid cartilage

fracture, blood infiltration in fractured margins,

epiglottis petechial haemorrhages. Under-scalp

contusion was found under left fronto-temporal

region with underlying subarachnoid haemorrhage

and petechial haemorrhage in white matter of brain.

Investigative tests reported alcohol in blood and in

stomach. The report concluded by crime scene

findings of iron press on table with outer coat of

wire partially burnt, and inner coat intact also candle

was on the table near iron press suggested to burn

the outer coat of the wire of the iron press.

3.2 Encountered Case Presentation

3.2.1 Case Presentation 4

It is based on experience of participated

investigation of electrocution death case in

Surabaya. The victim was 33 years old male, 120

kilograms, and 173 centimeters. He was brought by

police to Dr. Soetomo Hospital Forensic Department

for Autopsy and Post-mortem examination under

police request. The body was evacuated dead after

consecutive persisted two days door lock with foul

smell information from neighbours.

3.2.1.1 External post-mortem inspection;

On external inspection, the body was found greenish

brown skin, skin peeling almost whole body, and a

continued corpse decaying process. Burns and

injuries on left hand - left thumb, finger (1,2,3), back

of left hand (2 cuts); right hand - fingertips 1,3,4,5;

six chest cut wounds and electrical burns wounds;

stomach - 8 electrical burn wounds (Figure 4 a & b).

Figure 4: Multiple entry wounds on fingers

Figure 5: No encountered signs of exit injuries found on

feet sole

3.2.1.2 Internal post-mortem inspection;

Found bleeding spots on the heart and tongue,

neither laboratory test investigation revealed a

positive toxicological test of the contents of the

stomach and anatomical pathology nor substances

test consumption. Summary report revealed that

electrocution encountered death due to electrical

trauma that caused cardiac arrest resulting in

suffocation over 48 hours.

3.2.1.3 Visitation to Scene of Crime;

The crime scene of incidence was visited by a team

of Forensic experts, police crime scene detective,

and an investigator. The scene found to happen in a

room of size 3.5x3 meter, in which an extension

cable found open with dry decomposed fluids on

surface (Figure 6b). Wire of the extension cable was

burnt with blackish colour of contacted tissue during

electrocution (Figure 6a). The cable was an

extension from wall socket electric supply to

television set and radio. The room was also found

un-tidy with displayed staff, decomposed fluids with

foul smell draining near exit door.

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Figure 6: Extension cable with burnt wire and decomposed

fluids found open in crime scene

4 DISCUSSION

In electrocution for death to occur, the human body

must become a part of an active electrical circuit

having current capable of over stimulating the

nervous system or causing damage to internal

organs. The basic physics of electric current can be

expressed by the formula:

Ampere=Voltage/Resistance. The extent of injuries

received depends on the magnitude of the current

(measured in Amps), pathway of the current and

duration of current flow and the resistance offered

by the body. Of the three; the amperage or the

amount of current flow stand as most important

factor in electrocution at constant voltage (V) with

determination of resistance offered by the body

against the current passage. The minimal amount of

amperage perceptible to a human as a tingle is 1

milliamp, whereas 5 milliamperes produces tremors,

and 15-17 milliamperes causes contracture of the

muscles which prevents the victim from releasing

the live conductor. Ventricular ﬁbrillation occurs

between 75 and 100 milliamperes or ventricular

arrest at extremely high currents. Most fatalities

occur with the domestic voltage between 110 and

380 Volts, which is the voltage range of houses and

industrial electricity.

Skin offers higher resistance to the passage of

current than internal tissues. The resistance (R)

varies greatly according to thickness of the keratin

covered epidermis. Thus, palms, soles and calloused

skin provide more resistance than the thin skin

elsewhere. Electric current takes the path of least

resistance and creates heat, causing thermal damage

to various tissues along its passage. Most of the

deaths from electricity are from cardiac arrhythmias,

usually ventricular fibrillation leading to cardiac

arrest. It is due to passage of current through the

myocardium and possible dislocation of pacemaking

nodes. Death may occur as a result of respiratory

arrest, due to paralysis of intercostal muscles and

diaphragm or rarely by affecting the brain stem

when the current enters through the head. But it

must always be remembered that non-electrical

trauma is quite common. With electric source of

greater than 300 Volts, current might be transmitted

by means of arcing, caused by formation of

conductive plasma between the source and the

ground. The blast effect of high-voltage arcing can

throw the victim away from the source, causing fatal

injuries. The distance to which an electric arc can

jump is proportional to the voltage. The current can

arc up to 35 cm in 100000 V or may be as little as

few mm in 1000 V.

Referring to the four cases presented above; case

1 experienced a no entry or exit wounds. The

sustained burn injuries were due to arcing of the

current, giving rise to the appearance of ‘crocodile

skin’. The victim suffered non-electrical injuries

from being thrown to the ground. Case 2, both the

entry and exit wounds were seen. In this case the

exit wounds were multiple and much severe in

nature compared to one entry (Figure 2). This

extremely high voltage current causes the epidermal

keratin to melt and, and after cooling, it leaves a

raised brown or yellow nodule of fused keratin

surrounded by an areola of pale skin. Case 3, though

it was executed as concealment to homicide

performed, still, conduction resulted into palm mark

as entry injuries (Figure 3). Case 4 that happened in

Surabaya evidenced no exit mark injuries (Figure 5 a

& b) despite of multiple electric entry marks (Figure

4 a & b). Formation of marks as electric conduction

pathway are associated to resistance as explained

above. Furthermore, its presence suggests and nearly

proofs the death of electric source. To all four,

however, that case presented multiple exit wounds

still case four behaved differently similar to case

one, and case three that despite of electric passage

with no exit injury mark were evidenced. The

question is how the electric passage and conduction

progress in these three cases is: case one, three and

four? Because as to what is known, exit injury marks

would have appeared on sole reciprocating the palm

entry but also as the second tough skin surface apart

from palm.

This presentation is a deviate to expectations but

it gives a significant contribution on the scenario of

electric conduction through the body. Here the

scenario is on the position and gesture of the body to

support passage and out flow of current during

conduction. Visiting back to case one, the scenario

tells that the victim was electrocuted while on

electric pole – from such event, the body present a

Electrocution Death: Exit Mark Injury Use in the Suggestion of Body Posture during Forensic Investigation

497

no feet or sole contact with ground or any object

(Figure 1). The absence of direct sole contact

minimizes or removes the factor of increased

resistance that would resist electric to path through

similar to soft tissue. Case three presents an

individual whose death was found to be primarily

not of electrocution source instead a strangulation

then concealment to hide evidence. In this too, the

reconstruction of event might result in a victim laid

down for intended or homicide electrocution after

either homicide or weakened from alcohol and

strangulation. The possibility of having exit marks is

minimized because the body wasn’t on its weight or

stood position against ground. Thus, no resistance

too restricted electric current to flow through. Case

four likewise, the victim is presented with a possible

reconstruction of a sustained death while repairing

electric cable that was found open as presented in

the scene of event. The possible position of the

victim during repairing that cable is a down seated

position. The position make the body sole in no

contact similar to case one and three hence no

resistance to current flow electrocuted. Discussing

together with case two, body position suggests

differences between the cases. The victim is

presented as an individual electrocuted while

repairing a high tension electric wire. The

suggestion is drawn that the repair happened outside

on high electric power line that transmits high

tension electricity. While attending that, the victim

was in stood position on ground contact, hence

creating high pressure and tension on sole that

resulted into resistance of electric flow to cause

multiple exit injuries.

5 CONCLUSION

As thoroughly explained above on the importance of

exit injuries in establishing fatality sign of electric

executed death, this study adds on the provision of

determining position and posture of the victim

during electrocution. Summarizing from the four

cases studied altogether, three cases: one, three and

four are cases that suggest that their victims’ sole

were not in contact with ground (not in stood

position) during the electric flow contrary to case

two. This new suggestion influences occurrence of

exit wounds which is vital to fatal establishment due

to resistance encountered. Apart from such

establishment of exit wounds injuries, the position

suggests on the probability that help to attend the

principle of reconstruction with easy that – the exit

wound formation is in direct relation with body

position during electrocution. The formed sole exit

wound the tensed/pressured the sole contact –

suggesting a stood position and vice versa.

Significantly, adding to figure knowledge of exit

injury formation. Specifically when attending to

answer the last R (reconstruction) of CoPRRR

(Control, Preserve, Record, Recover and

Reconstruct) and 6Ws (What? Where? How? Who?

When? and Why?) fundamental and core principle

tools of forensic incidence investigation.

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