- Preface
- Autoerotic Deaths:
Practical Forensic and Investigative Perspectives is the result of a
meticulous collaboration and friendship between a former New York Homicide
Commander, who is now an internationally renowned homicide and forensic
consultant, and an experienced forensic pathologist, who is The Chief Medical
Examiner of Alberta and an internationally recognized authority on asphyxial
death. This book is the result of a unique combination of the knowledge and
experience of a dedicated murder cop who has seen it all, and that of a
passionate scientist whose research in the field has modernized the concepts
around autoerotic deaths. The two authors have enjoyed multiple conversations
where the new data of the science met the concrete examples of case studies.
This is what this book is all about: presenting a scientific modern view of
autoerotic death, with case illustrations.
Autoerotic Deaths:
Practical Forensic and Investigative Perspectives will become the
benchmark and "Best Practice" model for professional death investigations
involving autoerotic deaths because it will provide practical and conventional
information based on scientific research and case experience from the field
with a wide variety of exquisite case histories.
Throughout this
textbook, the authors will reference additional resource information as well as
case examples of the application of various tactics, procedures and forensic
techniques along with full-color illustrations, explanations and tables to
assist the reader in understanding the dynamics of autoerotic deaths.
In Chapter 1, an historical context of the evolution of the concept of
sexual asphyxia and autoerotic death is presented. The appearance and
development of the phenomenon is followed from the early non scientific reports
in the French literature and the whorehouses of London, through the early
scientific reports (1947 to 1980), the golden age of the wide development of
the field mainly under the team of Hazelwood (1981 to 1990), the turning point
of a revolutionary paper by Byard and Bramwell (1991) and the modern era that
followed.
In Chapter 2, the definition of autoerotic death will be
presented, along with the pitfalls in the application of the term autoerotic:
1) to label a death autoerotic despite that the manner of death is not
accidental, 2) to label a death autoerotic despite that the sexual asphyxia is
not solitary, and 3) to get confused around the concept of escape mechanism.
The incidence of autoerotic will be reviewed, and the best practices in
approaching these deaths will be discussed.
In Chapter 3, the death
scene characteristics will be explored. As the main clues to the autoerotic
nature of a death are at the scene, this chapter is particularly important. The
most common scene features are exposure of genitals, pornography, nudity, cross
dressing, and bondage.
The methods of autoerotic deaths will be
explored in Chapter 4, 5 and 6. The most common method of autoerotic death is
hanging (explored in Chapter 4), followed long behind by asphyxia by plastic
bags and chemical substances (Chapter 5). Unusual methods will be presented in
Chapter 6: electrocution, overdressing/body wrapping, foreign body insertion,
and atypical asphyxia method.
Finally, Chapter 7 will discuss the
atypical victims of autoerotic deaths: the female victims, the non-White
victims, the teenager and elderly victims.
The authors would like to
particularly thank Mark Benecke, International Forensic Research and Consulting
for his contribution to Chapters 4 and 5 and Brian Wilson, Director of
Production, Medicolegal Art, Atlanta Georgia for his exquisite medical drawings
and illustrations.
Autoerotic Deaths: Practical Forensic and
Investigative Perspectives presents a complete analysis of all aspects
of autoerotic deaths. Our goal was to develop a comprehensive resource text
that can serve as a practical guide for those involved in the investigation of
such deaths. We hope the reader will appreciate the combination of theory and
practice, with this unique combination of the most up to date science presented
in parallel to a more practical, down to earth case history format.
Anny Sauvageau and Vernon J. Geberth
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- Contents
- Autoerotic death:
Historical context
Sexual asphyxia in fiction
Anthropologists'
accounts of autoerotic asphyxia
Sexual asphyxia: Early nonscientific
reports in London
Historical context of autoerotic death in forensic
literature
The early period (1947 to 1980)
The golden age (1981 to
1990)
The turning point (1991)
The modern era
The need for a modern
book covering the advances on autoerotic death
Definition,
incidence, and best practices in approaching these deaths
Definition
Pitfalls in the application of the term autoerotic death
Pitfall 1: To
label a death autoerotic even though the manner of death was not accidental
Pitfall 2: To label a death autoerotic even though the sexual activity was
not solitary
Pitfall 3: To become confused concerning the concept of an
escape mechanism
Terminology and death certification
Incidence of
autoerotic deaths
Incidence in Canada Incidence in Europe
Incidence of
autoerotic deaths in Western Countries
Variables influencing the incidence
of autoerotic deaths
Best practices in approaching these deaths
Investigation of the scene
Examination of the body
History
Understanding these deaths: There are different types of sexuality
Definition of autoerotic deaths: Checklist for the forensic expert
Incidence of autoerotic deaths: Checklist for the forensic expert
Best
approaches of autoerotic deaths: Checklist for the forensic expert
Understanding these deaths: There are different types of sexuality
Death scene characteristics
Death scene characteristics as
main clues to the sexual autoerotic nature
Common scene features
Nudity
and exposure of the genitals
Cross-dressing
Evidence of masturbatory
activity
Foreign body insertion in the anus
Lubricants
Pornography
Mirror and video recording
Covering of the face, bondage of the
genitals, other bondage, and other masochistic behavior
Protective padding
in hanging
Evidence of repetitive behavior
Scene element forbidding
ruling a death as autoerotic
A modern study of crime scene features in
autoerotic death
Incidence of individual scene features
Number of scene
features per case
Comparison of scene features in relation to the
autoerotic methods
Comparison of scene features in relation to age group
Summary
Scene characteristics: Checklist for the forensic
expert
Typical methods of autoerotic deaths:
Hanging
Definitions of terms
Basic pathophysiology of hanging
Complete suspension versus incomplete suspension
Variation of positions
in autoerotic hangings
Scene investigation
Body examination
Neck
furrow
Petechiae
Cyanosis, congestion, protrusion of the tongue
Fractures of the neck structures
New data on the pathophysiology of
hanging: The Working Group on Human Asphyxia
The agonic sequence in hanging
Respiratory responses to hanging
Study of filmed hangings casts doubt
on the traditional conception of the pathophysiology of hanging
Agonal
responses to hanging in complete versus incomplete suspension
Role of
ischemic habituation on the agonal responses to hanging in autoerotic
practitioners
Role of ethanol in the agonal responses to hanging
Interpretation of bruises in hanging
Estimation of the time to die by
hanging
Estimation of the time to irreversibility
Typical methods of
autoerotic deaths: Checklist for the forensic expert
Basic knowledge in
autoerotic hanging: Checklist for the forensic expert
Advanced knowledge in
autoerotic hanging: Checklist for the forensic expert
Typical
methods of autoerotic deaths: Asphyxia by plastic bags and chemical
substances
Definitions of terms
Autoerotic deaths by smothering by
plastic bags over the head
Scene investigation
Autopsy findings
Pathophysiology of smothering
Pathophysiology of smothering: New data
from the Working Group on Human Asphyxia
Autoerotic deaths by suffocation
on chemical substances
Gaseous hydrocarbons
Anesthetic compounds
Inhalants: Glue, solvents, aerosols
Other chemicals
Scene
investigation
Pathophysiology of propane-related deaths: New data from the
Working Group on Human Asphyxia
Implications for toxicology and
pathology
Implications for crime scene interpretation
Typical methods
of autoerotic deaths: Checklist for the forensic expert
Definitions of
terms: Checklist for the forensic expert
Autoerotic deaths by smothering by
plastic bags over the head: Checklist for the forensic expert
Autoerotic
deaths by suffocation on chemical substances: Checklist for the forensic expert
References
Atypical methods of autoerotic
deaths
Electrocution
Examples from the literature
Overdressing/body wrapping
Examples from the literature
Foreign
body insertion
Examples from the literature
Atypical asphyxia methods
Definition of terms: The classification of asphyxia
Ligature
strangulation
Chest compression
Inverted or abdominal suspension
Immersion and drowning
Smothering
Other atypical methods
Atypical methods of autoerotic deaths: Checklist for the forensic expert
Atypical victims
Introduction
Female victims
Female
victims in the early period of forensic literature on autoerotic deaths (1947
to 1980)
Female victims in the golden age of forensic literature on
autoerotic deaths (1981 to 1990)
Female victims in the modern era of
forensic literature on autoerotic deaths (1991 to present)
Non-white
victims
Teenager and elderly victims
Atypical victims: Checklist for
the forensic expert
Index
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- Author Biographies
- Anny Sauvageau, MD MSc Chief
Medical Examiner Alberta, Canada
 Dr. Sauvageau started her career as forensic
pathologist in Montreal in 2002. In 2009, she moved to Alberta where she was
named Deputy Chief Medical Examiner in 2010 and Chief Medical Examiner in 2011.
She is Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta and the
University of Calgary, and a well known world expert on asphyxia. She received
her medical degree from the University of Montreal in 1996 and was board
certified in anatomical pathology in 2002. She has a founder designation in
forensic pathology from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
in recognition of her significant contribution to the development of this new
specialty in Canada. From 2007 to 2012, she has been vice president of the
Forensic Pathology Examination Board of the Royal College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Canada. She is also one of the founders and the program director of
the residency program in forensic pathology at the University of Alberta. She
is the author of more than 75 papers in peer-reviewed forensic journals and a
much sought-after international speaker. She is the founder of the Working
Group on Human Asphyxia and the co-founder of the International Network for
Forensic Research. Her innovative approach towards forensic research has
significantly improved the understanding of the pathophysiology of hanging and
other types of strangulation.
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- Vernon J. Geberth, M.S, M.P.S.,
B.B.A.
Lieutenant Commander (Ret.) NYPD, Practical Homicide
Investigation®, www.practicalhomicide.com
Commander Vernon Geberth is retired
Lieutenant-Commander of the New York City Police Department with over 40 years
of law enforcement experience. He has an undergraduate degree in Business
Administration and holds dual Master's degrees in Forensic Psychology and
Criminal justice. Commander Geberth is a graduate of the FBI national Academy
and is also a Fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).
Lieutenant Commander Geberth, is the author of Practical Homicide
Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Techniques, now in its
Fourth Edition and is recognized in the law enforcement field as "The
Bible of Homicide Investigation" and the Practical Homicide Investigation
Checklist and Field Guide, which is considered by professionals as an
essential prerequisite in conducting proficient death inquiries. Commander
Geberth is also the author of Sex-Related Homicide and Death
Investigation: Practical and Clinical Perspectives Second Edition,
which is considered the framework textbook on sex-related murder. Geberth is
also a co-author of Autoerotic Deaths: Practical Forensic and
Investigative Perspectives with Forensic Pathologist Dr. Anny
Sauvageau.
Commander Geberth is a nationally renowned lecturer, author,
educator, consultant and expert witness on the subject of death investigation.
He has appeared in numerous local, national and international television
programs answering questions on the subject of murder, and providing insight,
analysis and commentary with respect to all aspects of homicide and death
investigations. Geberth has been referenced as a media consultant on a myriad
of national major cases across the United States and Canada. Over 65,000
members from over 8,000 law enforcement agencies have attended Geberth's
Practical Homicide Investigation seminars.
In his seminars Geberth
focuses on Advanced Tactics, Procedures and Forensic Techniques and presents
Equivocal Death, Suicide and Missed Investigations as well Serial Murder
Investigation and the application of abnormal psychology to the investigative
process.
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- Publication &
Pricing
- This book is available
from CRC Press. Save
20% using Promo Code CWM17 at checkout.
ISBN 9781439837122, April
10, 2013, 180 pp $89.95.
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