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Fatal strangulation during consensual BDSM activity: three case reports

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Abstract

Autoerotic accidents are well-known occurrences in forensic casework. Reports about unintentional deaths in a sexual context involving other persons are much rarer. Three cases of fatal incidents related to asphyxiophilia during consensual BDSM activity are reported. Two men died while visiting a dominatrix, the third one in the presence of a male casual sexual partner. Paraphernalia associated with BDSM/fetishism were found at the scene in all cases. Autopsy findings were compatible with death by strangulation. The cases are compared with published autoerotic accidents and similar unintentional deaths involving other individuals. The difficulties concerning the forensic assessment and reconstruction of the cases are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 20, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Kristina Bauer, Corinna A. Schön & Christian Jackowski

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  1. Kristina Bauer
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  2. Corinna A. Schön
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  3. Christian Jackowski
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All authors contributed to the conception and design of this paper. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Kristina Bauer and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kristina Bauer.

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Bauer, K., Schön, C.A. & Jackowski, C. Fatal strangulation during consensual BDSM activity: three case reports. Int J Legal Med 135, 347–353 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02449-z

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