Considerations arising from a case of cannibalism: A forensic autopsy report

Abstract

Cannibalism represents an individual of a species eating another of the same species and is a widely recognized phenomenon in many species. Issues surrounding the existence of human cannibalism have long been debated and motivations for consuming human tissue have been divided into three types: ritual, survival, and pathological. Individuals who engage in such practices are usually either severely mentally ill or suffering from a significant paraphilia. In the present case, an autopsy was performed on a victim of cannibalism in her 20 s. The suspected male perpetrator had been found dead at the same time, and autopsy revealed parts of the victim’s breast and tongue in the stomach of the suspect. DNA analysis of stomach contents confirmed that they belonged to the female victim. The present case involved a murder targeting a woman, and the female genitalia were cut off and partially eaten, suggesting pathological cannibalism. In addition to significant paraphilia, the male suspect in this case may have also had psychological aspects such as identification. When encountering such murders, cannibalism may need to be considered, particularly if parts of the victim’s body are missing.