Based in Austin, Texas, Danielo Perez, MD, is a forensic pathologist who has examined a number of scenes involving unnatural, unexplained, and unattended deaths. Undertaking forensic autopsies, Dr. Danielo Perez focused on the underserved rural areas surrounding Austin. One of the primary pathways to death coroners deal with is asphyxia, which results when oxygen is no longer supplied to the organs or tissues.
Smothering involves the mouth and nose being obstructed and can occur in accidental situations, such as when a baby’s head becomes caught between a pillow and a wall. Homicidal types of smothering include covering a face fully with a pillow or placing duct tape over the air passages. There are no autopsy findings specific to this means of asphyxiation, although abrasions or contusions around the mouth and face are common in adults.
Strangulation is another major cause of asphyxiation, and involves a compression of the neck by some force other than the person’s own body weight. Typically homicidal, ligature strangulation usually leaves a horizontal mark across the neck. In addition, signs of struggle such as fingernail marks around the neck, lacerations, and abrasions may be present. Cases of hanging also involve neck compression, but the ligature mark is oblique, as at least some of the body’s weight will have been employed in tightening the ligature.
