{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T23:59:05Z","timestamp":1789430345115,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"21","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,22]],"date-time":"2025-10-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761091200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Introduction: Charred bodies represents a significant challenge for forensic pathologists due to the destructive effects of fire on human remains. Although most fire-related deaths are accidental, cases of suicide and homicide are not uncommon. Case Report: We report a peculiar case of a severely burned body discovered inside a torched vehicle. Under judicial investigation, a full autopsy was performed, including macroscopic and microscopic examination of key anatomical structures: the inspection of oral cavity revealed no soot deposits; a foreign object (a chestnut) was found anterior to the epiglottis, though not lodged within the glottis; no thermal injuries or soot were observed in the upper or lower airways. Histological analysis excluded thermal damage at the alveolar\u2013capillary interface. Alveolar spaces appeared both hyperinflated and ectatic, likely due to septal rupture, suggestive of acute pulmonary emphysema and multiorgan congestion. Carboxyhemoglobin levels were below 5%, indicating a low level which did not support intravital inhalation of combustion gases. Based on the comprehensive medico-legal findings, the cause of death was attributed to an asphyxial mechanism. It was further demonstrated that the burning of the body occurred post-mortem. DNA extraction from two dental specimens enabled positive identification of the victim. Subsequent investigations confirmed the case to be a femicide. The perpetrator, following a domestic altercation over jealousy, suffocated his young wife and attempted to simulate accidental choking by placing a chestnut in her mouth. He then staged a vehicular fire to mimic a fatal accident. Conclusions: The case underlines that a multidisciplinary forensic approach is essential, and must integrate different methodologies and the analysis of both circumstantial evidence and scene investigation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics15212664","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,22]],"date-time":"2025-10-22T03:43:23Z","timestamp":1761104603000},"page":"2664","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["The Chestnut and the Imperfect Crime: A Case Report of Femicide and Staged Road Accident"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7973-9259","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gennaro","family":"Baldino","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-4158-9155","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tindara","family":"Biondo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6212-2570","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cataldo","family":"Raffino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Legal Medicine Centre of INAIL, 94100 Enna, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5432-0224","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marija","family":"\u010caplinskien\u0117","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"State Forensic Science, Mykolas Romeris University Vilnius, 01101 Vilnius, Lithuania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1676-5916","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stefano","family":"Vanin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elvira Ventura","family":"Spagnolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.3390\/forensicsci4030018","article-title":"Phosgene Inhalation in Fire-Related Deaths: A Case Report of Two Lovers Burnt in a Travelling Carousel","volume":"4","author":"Callegari","year":"2024","journal-title":"Forensic Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1647","DOI":"10.1007\/s00414-021-02564-5","article-title":"Forensic investigative issues in a fireworks production factory explosion","volume":"135","author":"Baldino","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1097\/00000433-199906000-00007","article-title":"Concealed homicidal strangulation by burning","volume":"20","author":"Vieira","year":"1999","journal-title":"Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102703","DOI":"10.1016\/j.legalmed.2025.102703","article-title":"A nationwide forensic case-series of femicides in Italy\u2014Part 1: Clues to the motives of the murder","volume":"78","author":"Cecchi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102708","DOI":"10.1016\/j.legalmed.2025.102708","article-title":"A nationwide forensic case-series of femicides in Italy\u2014Part 2: Clues to its epidemiology, prediction and prevention","volume":"78","author":"Cecchi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"80","article-title":"Postmortem Burns to Conceal Homicidal Deaths: An Eight-Year Study","volume":"19","author":"Sane","year":"2024","journal-title":"Maedica"},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"32","article-title":"Dynamic of Fire Deaths: Two Emblematic Cases of Intentional Burning","volume":"175","author":"Pollice","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin. Ther."},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"40","article-title":"Homicidal or suicidal death? Evidence-based approach to assessing cause of death in a peculiar forensic case","volume":"175","author":"Indelicato","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin. Ther."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1177\/0025817218775575","article-title":"Homicide with post mortem dismemberment of the victim with previous amputation of right lower limb: Case report and review of the literature","volume":"86","author":"Zerbo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Med. Leg. J."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jflm.2012.01.001","article-title":"Postmortem Burning of the Corpses Following Homicide","volume":"19","author":"Karacaoglu","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Forensic Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"940","DOI":"10.1111\/1556-4029.14676","article-title":"Pattern of Homicidal Burns in Northern Tunisia: An Autopsy-Based Study Over 15 Years (2005\u20132019)","volume":"66","author":"Belghith","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Forensic Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"1000432","article-title":"An Unusual Case of Postmortem Burning Following Suicide","volume":"10","author":"Focardi","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Forensic Res."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"341","DOI":"10.1111\/1556-4029.15383","article-title":"A charred body inside a burning car with a garden hose connected to the exhaust pipe: Post-mortem self-immolation, a complex or a complicated suicide after the ingestion of alcohol? The importance of an interdisciplinary approach","volume":"69","author":"Simonit","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Forensic Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Baldino, G., Mondello, C., Sapienza, D., Stassi, C., Asmundo, A., Gualniera, P., Vanin, S., and Ventura Spagnolo, E. (2023). Multidisciplinary Forensic Approach in \u201cComplex\u201d Bodies: Systematic Review and Procedural Proposal. Diagnostics, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics13020310"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1037","DOI":"10.1007\/s00414-021-02734-5","article-title":"European Council of Legal Medicine (ECLM) On-Site Inspection Forms for Forensic Pathology, Anthropology, Odontology, Genetics, Entomology and Toxicology for Forensic and Medico-Legal Scene and Corpse Investigation: The Parma Form","volume":"136","author":"Cecchi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102717","DOI":"10.1016\/j.legalmed.2025.102717","article-title":"Towards a standard of scientific evidence in on-site inspection: Compilation of the ECLM on-site inspection form in a broad case history","volume":"78","author":"Camatti","year":"2025","journal-title":"Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1007\/s00414-020-02313-0","article-title":"Homicide and Concealment of the Corpse. Autopsy Case Series and Review of the Literature","volume":"135","author":"Giorgetti","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1016\/S1344-6223(00)80034-6","article-title":"An Autopsy Case of a Charred Body which Committed Suicide after Arson","volume":"2","author":"Tatsumi","year":"2000","journal-title":"Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1097\/PAF.0000000000000292","article-title":"Manner of Death De-Termination in Fire Fatalities\u20145-Year Autopsy Data of Istanbul City","volume":"38","author":"Melez","year":"2017","journal-title":"Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S75","DOI":"10.1097\/00005373-199012001-00018","article-title":"Pathophysiologic events related to thermal injury of skin","volume":"30","author":"Ward","year":"1990","journal-title":"J. Trauma."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"\u015eahin, H.\u00c7., Yaman, M.F., Alt\u0131ntop, \u00c7., G\u00fcler, F., K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7, F., Atan, Y., and Bu\u011fra, A. (Ir. J. Med. Sci., 2025). Fire covering the murder: Diagnostic challenges of postmortem burning in carbonized victims, Ir. J. Med. Sci., in press.","DOI":"10.1007\/s11845-025-04114-z"},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"59","article-title":"Postmortem or Perimortem Injury? Presentation of an incredible court case in which flames are the protagonists of a murder","volume":"175","author":"Tarzia","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin. Ter."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1016\/S0379-0738(03)00214-7","article-title":"Problems Associated with the Diagnosis of Vitality in Burned Bodies","volume":"135","author":"Bohnert","year":"2003","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Int."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1016\/j.legalmed.2004.10.007","article-title":"Possible factors contributing to the postmortem lung weight in fire fatalities","volume":"7","author":"Zhu","year":"2005","journal-title":"Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1097\/00000433-199606000-00007","article-title":"Carboxyhemoglobin levels in a series of automobile fires. Death due to crash or fire? Am","volume":"17","author":"Wirthwein","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Forensic Med. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"342","DOI":"10.1007\/s12024-018-9998-2","article-title":"Investigation into the potential for post-mortem formation of carboxyhemoglobin in bodies retrieved from fires","volume":"14","author":"Sully","year":"2018","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Med. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"86","article-title":"Homicides Disguised as Fire Deaths","volume":"30","author":"Chmieliauskas","year":"2023","journal-title":"Acta Medica Litu."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"902","DOI":"10.1007\/s11547-017-0802-2","article-title":"Post-mortem CT imaging of the lungs: Pathological versus non-pathological findings","volume":"122","author":"Filograna","year":"2017","journal-title":"Radiol. Med."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Calabrese, S., Spadaro, B., Nicolosi, A., Burrascano, G., Asmundo, A., Baldino, G., and Ventura Spagnolo, E. (Forensic Sci. Med. Pathol., 2025). Blunt Force vs. Fall-Induced Head Trauma: A Systematic Review and Methodological Framework, Forensic Sci. Med. Pathol., in press.","DOI":"10.1007\/s12024-025-01090-9"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"200590","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fri.2024.200590","article-title":"Forensic significance and inferential value of PMCT features in charred bodies: A bicentric study","volume":"37","author":"Oliva","year":"2024","journal-title":"Forensic Imaging"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"731","DOI":"10.1007\/s13244-018-0633-2","article-title":"Burned bodies: Post-mortem computed tomography, an essential tool for modern forensic medicine","volume":"9","author":"Coty","year":"2018","journal-title":"Insights Imaging"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1259","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1556-4029.2010.01459.x","article-title":"Classification of asphyxia: The need for standardization","volume":"55","author":"Sauvageau","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Forensic Sci."}],"container-title":["Diagnostics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4418\/15\/21\/2664\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,22]],"date-time":"2025-10-22T03:50:59Z","timestamp":1761105059000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4418\/15\/21\/2664"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,22]]},"references-count":32,"journal-issue":{"issue":"21","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11]]}},"alternative-id":["diagnostics15212664"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/diagnostics15212664","relation":{},"ISSN":["2075-4418"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2075-4418","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,22]]}}}