Scene Description:
Upon arrival at the scene, RBP and my team were approached by a group of men working there, likely the friends of the deceased. A blue tent camp site is at an immediate glance of the scene, located at the edge of the road below which is a steep slope(Scene was not safe to locate a camp). A few meters in front of the camp is a campfire still burning and warm. Plates, pots and other kitchen items everywhere. Few beverage bottles were also seen.
Campfire is located very close to a steep slope on the roadside. Earth around the campfire is smooth with footprints. A long wooden pole which is tied to a fixed pole at one end and loose at another end is seen almost hanging down the steep slope. That steep slope below the campfire is also smoothed, brooms scattered over it; extends to about 20 feet down near two giant trees. There lies the body of the deceased on a well stabilized planks; covered with blankets and tied to an adjacent small yet strong tree.
Clothing and Ligature:
The decedent was wearing just a black pants, leaving his upper body naked. The black pants are completely soiled. He didn’t have shoes on his feet. However, he is lying flat on a mattress(on the planks mentioned above) and well-covered by two blankets. His slippers were seen a few meters below that giant tree(feet end).
A strong rope was tied to his abdomen on one end and to a strong tree on the other end.
No suspicious ligature was identified.
Body Position and Rigor Mortis:
The body was in supine position. Arms and left leg in neutral position while right leg was bent at knee joint perpendicularly.
The body temperature was extremely cold, but rigor mortis (stiffening of muscles) was not seen on both upper and lower limbs. Time since death is difficult to mention in this case as the negative environmental temperature, the decedent’s naked body and the history suggestive of heavy intoxication the hours before the fall incident. The history from the friends, however, mentioned that he was conscious and talking(but not having good balance to walk) at around 2:30 am; so approximately the TSD is about 8-10 hrs. TSD can still be correct when the body is extremely cold and not stiff as he is heavily intoxicated.
Hypostasis (pooling of blood due to gravity) was not yet observed.
Injuries:
A linear deep and still fresh cut, approximately 3 cm long, was seen on the left vertex region. The characteristics of the wound are consistent with a superficial cut by a sharp object, however, it is not consistent with a stabbing or penetrating injury; as there’s no penetration or fracture of the skull bone beneath the cut; which will definitely be there if so.
Gross abrasion over the left shoulder is noted(superficial). Multiple other abrasions on multiple sites noted. Patterned linear abrasion noted on left chest possibly due to abrasion over a rough stone/wood. Tattoos on both upper limbs noted.
No bleeding from ear, nose or eyes, however, the mouth is blood stained. Teeth are Doma-stained. Upper gum space heavily packed with tobacco chewing gum. Bilateral pupils are fixed and dilated, not reactive to light.
Gross abrasion lateral to the right eye. Small abrasions on other parts of the face.
No injuries or marks noted on the neck.
Other injuries as described above.
Cause of Death Assessment:
Apart from the injuries described above, there were no major signs of struggle or defensive wounds observed on the body or at the scene; except that there was a continuous sloppy path down from the campfire site to the site where the body was lying indicating the fall downslope in contact with the slope.
No visible discharges from the orifices (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, anus, and penis) were present at the time of examination. The cold temperature could have contributed to the absence or delay in the appearance of such discharges.
Other than the wounds mentioned above, no other remarkable injuries were identified.
COD in this case, is likely intracranial hemorrhage(EDH) and prolonged severe hypothermia.
Background Information:
It is important to note that the decedent and the friends had an entertainment night around the campfire as they have decided to go and attend the national day celebration the next day(day of examination). They were enjoying hard and soft beverages heavily to the extent that they lost body balance. It started around 6:00 pm and prolonged beyond their control. They were dancing around the campfire even when they didn’t have body balance(intoxicated). The decedent and one of the friends were at the edge of the slope when they were dancing. At around 9:00 pm, the two accidentally fell down the slope; as the wooden pole(not meant for supporting as it was weak) loosened as they pushed subconsciously. The survivor(who sustained minor facial injuries due to the sharp end of the broom) was stuck at around 2-3 meters down the slope while the deceased continued to fall downslope.
It is worth mentioning that the friends had tried their best to take him inside the tent,however, it was difficult for them as the deceased could not balance his leg to walk up even with their support(who were also heavily intoxicated and incapable of lifting the deceased or guide him).
Since they felt difficulty and even the deceased felt it would be difficult to reach the tent(as per the friends), the deceased told them to go to the tent and sleep while he wanted to stay back at night; and to come up in the tent after he became sober. Since they couldn’t pull him up, believed and agreed to what he said, the friends left him there after taking and covering him with some warm-blankets and a mattress to keep him warm. That was around 2:30 am when the deceased was still talking and alive. That was the last time the friends saw him talking.
In the morning, just before they informed the RBP Tsimalakha, he was found breathless, unresponsive and very cold by one of the friends when he went to check on him. Scared by the findings, he rushed back in the tent to inform other friends and thus confirmed the death; and informed the RBA Tsimalakha.
Conclusion:
Based on the scene investigation, autopsy findings, and background information, the most probable cause of death is and likely intracranial hemorrhage(EDH) and prolonged severe hypothermia secondary to heavy intoxication by alcohol leading to imbalance and subconscious state incapacitating them(including deceased) to either locate the deceased to safe and warm place or to inform the emergency services. Impaired judgment of his injuries by friends due to heavy intoxication also delayed to seek the emergency service. However, the night’s entertainment beverages were consumed unanimously and not under compulsion of any of them. Therefore, by considering all, the COD is as mentioned above and the estimated time since death is approximately 8-10 hours during the time of death investigations. Foul play was strongly ruled out in this case.
