Suicidal fire deaths revisited

Summary

A study of self-immolation or suicidal fire deaths was performed on the case files of the Office of the Medical Examiner of Metropolitan Dade County in Miami, Florida, during the 8-year period from 1977 to 1984. A total of 24 cases, representing 0.96% of the suicides that occurred during this period, were collected and analyzed as to age, race, sex cause of death of the victim along with the blood alcohol content at autopsy, drugs detected at autopsy, and the teminal carboxyhemoglobin. Additionally, the scene circumstances, geographic location of the terminal incident, the reason for the suicide, whether or not there was a past suicide attempt, a past psychiatric history, how the fire was started, presence or absence of an outside example, time of occurrence, presence of hospitalization, and presence of a suicide note were also noted. Most of the victims were white women of over 50 years of age who died of thermal injuries. Half of the time the blood alcohol content was negative at autopsy, 1/3 of the time the drug screen was negative, and 1/3 of the time a small amount of carboxyhemoglobin was noted. Most fires originated at home, although motor vehicles were also common. Reasons for the suicide were varied. Of the cases 1/3 had a precious suicide attempt and approximately 1/2 of the cases had a psychiatric history. Commonly, the fire is started by pouring a flammable liquid on oneself as isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or gasoline and igniting it. No outside media examples were noted. These events occurred more frequently in the afternoon or evening. Most were hospitalized and most did not leave a suicide note.

Zusammenfassung

In der vorliegenden Studie wurden die Selbstmörder durch Feuertod während der Jahre 1977 bis 1984 untersucht. Vierundzwanzig Fälle bzw. 0.96% der Suizidrate während dieser Zeit wurden in bezug auf Alter, Rasse, Geschlecht, Todesursache, Blutalkoholgehalt Drogenanalyse und CO-Hämoglobin untersucht. Ebenfalls wurden der Tatort, die Örtlichkeit, der Grund für den Selbstmord, frühere Versuche, die psychiatrische Anamnese, die Art der Brandlegung und die Tageszeit analysiert. In der Mehrzahl der Fälle handelt es sich um Weiße und zwar um alte Frauen mit negativem Blutalkohol, ein Drittel mit negativer Drogenanalyse und ein Drittel mit geringem CO-Gehalt. Das Feuer wurde im Hause oder im Auto gelegt. Die Gründe dafür waren verschieden. Es wurden in einem Drittel der Fälle frühere Versuche ermittelt. In der Hälfte der Fälle fand sich eine psychiatrische Geschichte vor.