ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 October 1986
Page Count: 4

Homicidal Asphyxia by Pepper Aspiration
Cohle, SD
Forensic pathologist, Blodgett Memorial Medical Center, MI

(Received 17 January 1986; accepted 3 February 1986)

Abstract

As punishment for lying, the foster mother of a five-year-old white male poured pepper into his throat. He immediately became dyspneic, then apneic, and was pronounced dead about 1 h later. At autopsy, the main stem and several smaller bronchi were occluded with pepper. Mechanisms of asphyxia by pepper include mechanical obstruction of the tracheobronchial tree and mucosal edema caused by the irritant effect of volatile oils in pepper. This rare circumstance represents the second reported fatal case of pepper aspiration and the third reported case overall.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, asphyxia, pepper, homicide

Paper ID: JFS11928J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11928J
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