Hypothermic Death with Paradoxical Undressing : Mimicking Rape-related Homicide : Case Report / 대한법의학회지

ABSTRACT

Paradoxical undressing is a well-known but uncommon phenomenon in hypothermic deaths. If an individual is found unusually undressed in cold weather and its autopsy finding is not related to any homicidal circumstance, the undressing is considered the victim s perimortem act accompanied in the hypothermic death. But unexperienced police staffs and scene investigators who are unaware of this perimortem phenomenon could take especially female death cases with paradoxical undressing for rape related homicides. The presenting case was initially considered a rape homicide but ruled a hypothermic death with the manner an accident through complete postmortem examinations including meticulous autopsy. We think this case is a good example for understanding the hypothermic death with pardoxical undressing and how to come to rule out homicide from it.