The Role of Forensic Investigation in an Unusual Case of Patricide by a Schizophrenic Woman Involving Dismemberment of a Decomposed Body
Isabella Aquila,
Matteo Antonio Sacco,
Fabrizio Cordasco,
Carmen Scalise,
Francesco Maria Galassi,
Elena Varotto,
Walter Caruso,
Valerio Riccardo Aquila,
Pietrantonio Ricci
Affiliations
Isabella Aquila
Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Loc. Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Matteo Antonio Sacco
Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Loc. Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Fabrizio Cordasco
Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Loc. Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Carmen Scalise
Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Loc. Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Francesco Maria Galassi
Archaeology, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
Elena Varotto
Archaeology, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
Walter Caruso
ASP, 87100 Cosenza, Italy
Valerio Riccardo Aquila
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Loc. Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Pietrantonio Ricci
Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Loc. Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Dismemberment is characterized by the fragmentation of the body into anatomical sections. It can occur because of a murder, suicide, or accident. In the literature, there are no cases of patricide perpetrated by a daughter in which the offender performed the dismemberment. However, in this paper, we reported a case of patricide by a schizophrenic daughter that was not treated with antipsychotic therapy. Post-mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT), autopsy, and histological examinations were performed. The soft tissues were removed through maceration techniques and chemical treatment. An analysis was performed to study the bone margins and clarify the weapon and manner of death. This investigation, which used radiological and histological studies, helped to assess the vitality of the injuries. The purpose of the study is to discover the weapon used, the cause, and the manner of death, with particular interest in this case due to the dismemberment. Moreover, we emphasize the correlation between patricide, dismemberment, and a lack of antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia.
