ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

The Chain Saw: An Uncommon Means of Committing Suicide
Henrikson, DM
Northern California Forensic Pathology, CA

Springer, FA
Sacramento County District Attorney, Laboratory of Forensic Services,

Campman, SC
The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, OAFME—AFIP Annex,

(Received 31 December 1998; accepted 27 May 1999)

Abstract

A suicide committed with a power saw is an uncommonly reported incident; and the use of a chain saw in particular has been extremely rare. We report two cases of suicide that were committed by using chain saws. In each case the victim had a history of depression or of a prior suicide attempt, and applied the chain saw to his neck to kill himself. We summarize the findings of the two death investigations and the world literature pertaining to suicide committed with power saws.

Keywords:
forensic science, suicide, chain saw, power tools, electric saw

Paper ID: JFS14709J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14709J
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