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Plasterman: an atypical autoerotic accidental death by
mechanical asphyxiation.
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| Article Type: | Case study |
| Subject: |
Autoerotic asphyxia
(Cases) Autoerotic asphyxia (Methods) |
| Authors: |
Goodman, Norman R. Hartung, Gary |
| Pub Date: | 06/22/2009 |
| Publication: | Name: The Forensic Examiner Publisher: American College of Forensic Examiners Audience: Professional Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Health; Law; Science and technology Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 American College of Forensic Examiners ISSN: 1084-5569 |
| Issue: | Date: Summer, 2009 Source Volume: 18 Source Issue: 2 |
| Topic: | Event Code: 980 Legal issues & crime Advertising Code: 94 Legal/Government Regulation Computer Subject: Company legal issue |
| Geographic: | Geographic Scope: United States Geographic Code: 1USA United States |
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| Accession Number: | 201548834 |
| Full Text: |
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The following case report is an atypical autoerotic death caused by an accidental mechanical asphyxiation due to autoerotic circumstances. In this case report, the decedent tried to emulate the titillating actions of a variety of pornographic videos, each of which involve the use of mud. Instead of mud, the decedent used a substance known as joint compound (similar to Plaster of Paris). The scene was set: a trash receptacle filled with plaster, a television set playing a pornographic VHS, and walls decorated with provocative posters. The decedent was nude as he entered a plaster-filled trash receptacle He slipped on the wet joint compound and his head went under the plaster. He gasped for air and aspirated the liquid plaster, which resulted in death by mechanical asphyxia. The manner of death would be considered accidental [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Introduction The following case is one that is unique when it comes to autoerotic deaths. The typical autoerotic death is one where the victim attempts to cause a partial anoxia by applying some means of pressure to the carotid arteries in order to produce the sensation of an "orgasm," resulting in a mishap that causes the victim to expire (Knight, 2003). Dorland Medical Dictionary defines asphyxia as "caused by a lack of oxygen in respired air resulting in hypoxia and hypercapnia," and autoeroticism as "a sexual feeling directed toward oneself" (1999). Mechanical asphyxia refers to asphyxia caused by a "blockage of the upper airways by some foreign body" (Knight, 2003). This case of mechanical asphyxia is one with an autoerotic twist, yet it is accidental in manner of death. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Case History A concerned mother called the Pennsylvania State Police because it had been 2 days since her son had shown up to the local pizza shop where he was employed as a pizza delivery man. A Pennsylvania State Trooper and the manager of the trailer park where the man resided arrived to make a "well-being check" (Pennsylvania Police Incident Report). There had been a light snowfall the night before and there were no footprints or tracks to or from the trailer of the missing person. The trailer was an older two-bedroom residence. The subject's vehicle was parked in the driveway; the doors were locked, and there were no signs of tampering or forced entry of the vehicle. Upon entering the enclosed porch of the trailer, it was noted by the State Trooper and manager that there were many stacks of pornographic magazines, DVDs, and VHS tapes. In the living area, they found many more stacks of pornographic magazines, DVDs, and VHS tapes such as Mud Eroticism, Young Lady--Deep Mud, and Mud Fun. The walls were decorated with provocative posters, and there were numerous empty five-gallon containers of joint compound (plaster) in the spare bedroom. The deputy coroner noted that the body was tilted to the left, the head and left shoulder were completely submerged in plaster, and the right hand and shoulder were extended as if reaching for assistance. There was no sign of life and the decedent was pronounced dead at the scene. The large trash receptacle containing the body was transported to the morgue for further study (Coroner Case Report). At the morgue, the trash receptacle was cut open with a Stryker saw, allowing the plaster from the receptacle and the plaster-coated decedent to pour onto a tarp on the floor. Much of the body was encrusted with plaster. Most of the plaster was peeled and chipped from the body, and the remaining plaster was washed off to reveal a nude body. The external examination noted extensive joint compound present in mouth; petechial hemorrhage of the eyes (Knight, 2003); multiple recent contusions on anterior aspect of both legs; no evidence of any penetrating, perforating, or blunt force trauma; and no evidence of any defensive wounds or bruising. The internal examination revealed extensive joint compound present in the upper aerodigestive tract to include the posterior pharynx, esophagus to the level of the gastroesophangeal junction, and level of the true and false vocal cords; and no evidence of significant natural disease, infection, or congenital abnormality. In his autopsy report, Dr. Richard T. Callery, Forensic Pathologist, cited mechanical asphyxia as the cause of death. The manner of death was classified as an accident. The body was identified by photo identification of a Pennsylvania driver's license, visual identification by prior association with the Pennsylvania State Trooper, and by the location of scars consistent to the family's descriptions. Conclusions The decedent was trying to emulate what he had seen in VHS tapes such as Mud Eroticism, except that he substituted joint compound (plaster) instead of mud. The decedent appeared to have slipped on the wet plaster, causing his head to be submerged below the liquid joint compound. When he was unable to upright himself, he tried to breathe, inhaling and aspirating the soft wet plaster and therefore causing the mechanical obstruction. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Acknowledgements Dr. Robert O. Satriale, Coroner, Chester County, Pennsylvania Nancy Cheyne, Administrate Assistant to Coroner Tim Walsh, Office Assistant to Coroner Dr. Richard T. Callery, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Linda Edelson-Slocum Dr. Halbert Fillinger, Forensic Pathologist Further Readings Byard, R.W., & Bramwell, N.H. (1988). Autoerotic deaths in females: An undiagnosed syndrome? American Journal of Forensic Medical Pathology, 9, 252-254. Curran, W.J., McGarry, A.L., & Petty, C.S. (1980). Modern Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Forensic Science. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Co. Marquis de Sade (1740-1814). Justine or The Misfortunes of Virtue. Putnam, New York. Wesselius, C., & Bally, R. (1983). A male with autoerotic asphyxia syndrome: American Journal of Medical Pathology, 4, 341-347. References Callery, R.T. Autopsy Report. Chester County Coroner Case Report. Dorland Medical Dictionary (28th ed.). (1999). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co. Knight, B. (2003). Forensic Pathology (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. Pennsylvania Police Incident Report. By Dr. Norman R. Goodman, DDS, DABFE, Chief Deputy Coroner #1, and Gary Hartung, Deputy Coroner #2 Dr. Norman R. Goodman is a graduate of Temple University, School of Dentistry. Following a tour of duty with the United States Army, he returned to New York University, School of Dentistry to receive his Post Graduate Certification in Orthodontics. He had a practice limited to Orthodontics in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, until retiring in 1992. Upon retiring, Dr. Goodman became a full-time Deputy Coroner in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was appointed as Chief Deputy Coroner in 1996, a position that he holds to this date. He is a member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response (DMORT, Region # 3). He served at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York during the World Trade Center Attack and did two tours of duty in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Gary M. Hartung has been a Nationally Registered Paramedic since 1978. He joined the Chester County, Pennsylvania Coroner's Office as a Deputy Coronor in 1999. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association. He has been trained in Medico legal Death investigation. |
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