Abstract

GARAMENDI, P.M.  and  LOPEZ ALCARAZ, M.. Death of an adult woman after attack by two rottweiller breed dogs: discussion about "pack attack" and postmorten anthropophagy: A case report and literature review. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2012, vol.18, n.2, pp.71-80. ISSN 1988-611X.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1135-76062012000200004.

We present a case report of an unsual unwitnessed violent death of an adult woman supposedly killed by her two guardian dogs. Both dogs were rottweiller breed. The conclusion of the medicolegal investigation indicates that the woman was probaly attacked by only one of the dogs and after death one or both dogs ate anatomic parts of the body (head). A review of updated medicolegal publications was made. The results of the review were centered on epidemiological profile of death by dogs attack, the features of mortal dog attacks and the features of the injuries produced by dogs on death bodies. This review confirms the unusual characteristics of this medicolegal investigation. Some recommendations like performing a veterinary autopsy in all cases and taking biological samples for forensic genetics investigations were included. Advantages and limitations of bite-injury analysis by odontological methods in complicated cases like the one reported in this paper were also discussed.

Keywords : Injuries; Death; Medicolegal autopsy; Dog; Bite-injuries; Anthropofagy; Rottweiller.

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