DEATH BY STROKE IN A SUSPECTED RAPE VICTIM: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Introduction: Rape is a recurring crime in the Brazilian context. The police investigation on this felony requires the performance of forensic sexology, which, through the examination of the corpus delicti, is able to provide evidence about this heinous crime. The objective of the present study is to report a case of a death by stroke in a victim of suspected rape. Material and method: This is a qualitative and descriptive clinical case study, whose data collection took place through analysis of the expert report coming from the Thanatology Nucleus of the Legal Medicine Coordination of the Forensic Expertise of Canindé. Resultados: Female victim, 64 years old, brown, referred to the service for suspicious death, with a history of possible rape confessed by her son. On examination, voluminous intracranial bleeding and absence of apparent signs of trauma and recent sexual violence or sexual intercourse were evidenced. The analysis of material from vaginal and rectal swabs found only the presence of genetic material from the victim himself. Discussion: Upon expert examination, the suspicion of rape by the victim’s son was ruled out, demanding an analysis of the suspect’s psychological state, in order to justify his implausible confession. In addition, it was found that the victim’s death resulted from a hemorrhagic stroke. Conclusion: Thus, the forensic examination of forensic evidence is relevant, which contributes to the clarification of suspected cases and to the reliability of epidemiological data regarding rape. Keywords: Rape, Legal Medicine, Stroke.