So-called Spontaneous Human Combustion

Levi-Faict, Thierry W.; Quatrehomme, Gérald

doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01746.x

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…1,3,[20][21][22] Majority of the reports were from Europe, specifically from France. Age of the victims ranged from 44 to 74 years (mean age 59 years).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Some of the victims were known to be socially isolated. 1,3,21 Interesting enough, two of the victims lived with a dog, both of which died of carbon monoxide poisoning. 1,22 Contrary to popular belief, it seems that all SHC victims are not under the influence of alcohol, and only 41% of these victims were found to be alcohol intoxicated.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Age of the victims ranged from 44 to 74 years (mean age 59 years). 1,3,21,22 Eight (67%) patients were female. There were four Caucasian victims, 1,3,22 two of North African origin 22 and one African-American.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…21 Commonly, the victims were of normal body type and only two had truncal obesity. 3,22 Other clinical conditions autopsy findings are summarized in Table 1. Table 2 presents the factors influencing the ignition.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fourth, on the floor around the victim, a malodorous oily substance is discovered. [1][2][3] In the past, such a situation was erroneously attributed to supernatural powers.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Spontaneous Human Combustion in the Light of the 21st Century

Koljonen

Kluger

2012

Journal of Burn Care & Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The term "spontaneous human combustion" refers to a situation when a human body is found with significant portions of the middle parts of the body reduced to ashes, much less damage to the head and extremities, and minimal damage to the direct surroundings of the body. Typically, no observable source of ignition is found in the vicinity of the victim and a bad smelling oily substance is noted. In the past, such a situation was erroneously attributed to supernatural powers, as such phenomenon occurs in the absence of any witness. The purpose of this review article was to analyze articles published from January 1, 2000, on this unique type of burn injury. Further aims were to gather and present data on the causes and events leading to this situation. The literature was reviewed with PubMed interface using the key words spontaneous human combustion and preternatural combustion. Specific inclusion criteria resulted in 12 patients. A unique sequence of events takes place for the human body to incinerate to ashes. The flame burn victim has to die for the body fat to start melting. A tear in the skin has to occur for the melted fat to impregnate the charred clothes, igniting a wick effect that produces localized heat for extended period. A phenomenon called spontaneous human combustion is reality. The term "spontaneous human combustion" has nuances which are not applicable to this situation or to these modern times, therefore we suggest a new term "fat wick burns."

show abstract

“…1,3,[20][21][22] Majority of the reports were from Europe, specifically from France. Age of the victims ranged from 44 to 74 years (mean age 59 years).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fourth, on the floor around the victim, a malodorous oily substance is discovered. [1][2][3] In the past, such a situation was erroneously attributed to supernatural powers.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Spontaneous Human Combustion in the Light of the 21st Century

Koljonen

Kluger

2012

Journal of Burn Care & Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Bone color changes and interpretation of the temperature/duration of fire exposure to human remains in the forensic context

Galloway,

Pope,

Juarez

2024

WIREs Forensic Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In both the archeological and forensic literature, experimental data have been used to equate the color of burned bone with the temperature to which it was exposed. While this may be applicable in the tightly controlled oxidizing environment of a furnace or crematorium, it is not representative of the more realistic dynamic conditions of fire events involving structures, vehicles, outdoors, and so forth, that are encountered in forensic anthropology casework. In this piece, we review the literature at the cross section of bone color and temperature and compare it to our own observations from experimental burns. We generate a cautionary path forward for future research as well as interpretation in applied contexts. Implying temperature based on burned bone color ignores other significant variables that are related to the degradation of the bone's organic matrix like, the amounts and types of fuels, duration, fluctuations of temperature, oxygen level of the environment, byproducts of combustion, and other variables unique to each scene. Research results on bone color and temperature derived from controlled environments using non‐fleshed bone samples, are not applicable for use in forensic casework involving burned human remains from fleshed bodies. We argue that to do so distracts from other contributing variables and information that can be derived from the analysis of fire patterns on burned human remains and burned bones. Finally, we caution about using bone color alone to estimate temperatures of the fire, which makes incorrect assumptions about fire behavior and could jeopardize court testimony if this method is used as a standard. We raise three issues if a direct correlation between temperature and bone color are used in court: (1) other important factors are ignored, (2) a universal unvaried exposure of the body is assumed, and (3) the expert risks impeachment given conflicting data on the correlation.This article is categorized under: Forensic Medicine > Death Scene Investigation Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment

show abstract