ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 March 1988
Page Count: 4

An Unusual Case of Child Abuse Homicide/Suicide
Fain, DB
Laboratory director and president, Forensic Pathologists, Inc., LA

McCormick, GM
Laboratory director and president, Forensic Pathologists, Inc., LA

(Received 16 March 1987; accepted 2 June 1987)

Abstract

This case report examines a child abuse homicide in which the perpetrator committed suicide a few hours after the infant's death. At the time of the perpetrator's suicide he was not under investigation, nor was he a suspect in the death of the child. Although the literature does not contain reports of similar cases, we are sure they exist. This report raises the question of the degree of social stigma attached to the accusation of child abuse. It also serves as a warning to those who must deal with the potentially suicidal child abuser.

Keywords:
criminalistics, pathology and biology, child abuse, suicide

Paper ID: JFS11972J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11972J
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