Radiological Revelation of a Concealed Shotgun Injury in a Decomposed,Looted Driver: Postmortem Artefacts Misleading a Homicide Investigation

Introduction

Accurate differentiation between antemortem injuries and postmortem artefacts remains a cornerstone of forensic pathology, particularly in decomposed bodies where tissue degradation and animal scavenging may mimic vital trauma. ¹ Misinterpretation may critically affect medicolegal conclusions. Radiological evaluation, especially conventional X-rays, assists in detecting foreign bodies, reconstructing projectile trajectories and clarifying obscured wound patterns.^{2, 3}

Whole-body radiography prior to autopsy has proven invaluable in identifying concealed ballistic trauma. Gouda and Mestri documented the role of piecemeal radiography in firearm fatalities, demonstrating detection of retained pellets not evident externally. ⁴ Additional regional studies emphasise medicolegal implications of firearm injuries in India, reinforcing the need for systematic radiological evaluation. ⁵ Shotgun injuries present further diagnostic difficulty due to pellet dispersion, atypical entry defects and concealed ballistic tracks.^6–8

Several forensic reports have highlighted how radiology uncovers firearm injuries in severely decomposed bodies, preventing misclassification of the manner of death.^{9, 10} We present a unique case where high-density radiopaque clusters on screening X-ray revealed a hidden shotgun injury initially mistaken for animal scavenging, ultimately proving homicide.

Case Report

Crime Scene Findings

The body was found in a right lateral position exhibiting advanced decomposition, generalised bloating and extensive maggot infestation (Figure 1). The face was unrecognisable. Distinct scavenging defects were present over the buttocks, thighs and nape of the neck. Soft tissue destruction was initially attributed to postmortem animal activity.

OPEN IN VIEWER Figure 1.

The Decomposed Male Body is Discovered in the Right Lateral Position, Amidst Roadside Bushes in an Abandoned Place. The Clothes are Displaced and Torn. Advanced Bloating with Maggot Activity is Present. The Situation and Body’s Position Raised Suspicion of Foul Play.

Autopsy Findings

The deceased was clothed in a blue shirt, grey trousers and torn blue underwear, all displaced and heavily soiled. The body measured 185 cm in length and had an estimated antemortem weight of 85 kg. Extensive putrefaction with dense maggot activity was present.

A 2 × 0.5 cm irregular tear with a punched-out defect was noted on the upper back collar of the shirt, showing frayed margins and surrounding blackening and searing (Figure 2). A faint burnt odour was perceptible on close inspection.

OPEN IN VIEWER Figure 2.

Outer Aspect of the Shirt’s Collar, Showing an Irregular Defect and Tear with Tattered Margins, Suggesting Garment Damage from a Gunshot Blast. Inset Shows a Circumscribed Band of Blackening and Searing Around the Defect (Arrows).

Comprehensive whole-body postmortem radiography was conducted using a stationary digital radiography system (500 mA). Two whole-body images, AP and lateral projections, were acquired, which revealed multiple clustered, rounded radiopaque pellets in the posterior cranial fossa and cervical region, confirming a shotgun injury (Figure 3).

OPEN IN VIEWER Figure 3.

X-ray Image Showing Clusters of Shotgun Pellets in the Nape of Neck and Occipital Region.

A 3.0 × 2.5 cm D-shaped defect with scalloped margins and satellite puncture abrasions was identified over the nape of the neck, 3 cm below the external occipital protuberance, straddling the midline (Figure 4). The wound was directed upward, forward and medially.

OPEN IN VIEWER Figure 4.

D-shaped Shotgun Wound Defect Over the Nape of the Neck, Exhibiting Crenulated Margins, Right Sided Bevelling and Surrounding Satellite Lesions from Individual Pellets.

Layer-by-layer dissection revealed ecchymosis, a ballistic cavity extending into the cervical region, and multiple embedded metallic pellets (Figure 5), white plastic fragments and black sponge-like wad components consistent with a close-range shotgun discharge (Figure 6).

OPEN IN VIEWER Figure 5.

Multiple Pellets Recovered from the Successive Layers of Subcutaneous Tissues (Encircled).

OPEN IN VIEWER Figure 6.

Multiple Pellets Recovered from the Wound Track (Displayed on a White Paper). Inset: A Fragmented Sponge-like Wad Remnant Retrieved from the Ballistic Channel, Displayed on the Glove.

Two pellets were lodged in the C1–C2 disc space, with others dispersed within liquefied cranial tissue. The cranio-cervical junction was haemorrhagic and disrupted, although vertebrae remained intact. The spinal cord was pulped. No other injuries were identified. Scavenged areas showed no vital reaction. Chemical analysis detected no poisons. Integrating the autopsy findings with the available case history and situational circumstances, the postmortem interval was assessed to be in the range of three to five days.

Discussion

Radiographic imaging plays a critical role in detecting and localising retained projectiles, assessing trajectories and differentiating firearm injuries from postmortem artefacts, particularly in decomposed or burnt bodies where classical signs such as soot, tattooing or cavitation may be absent.^11–15 Warmer climates accelerate putrefaction, often obscuring vital trauma and complicating the interpretation of injuries. ¹⁵ The earliest radiographic demonstration of shotgun pellets was published in 1896 and guided successful pellet removal, highlighting the long-standing value of radiology in firearm trauma. ¹²

In the present case, radiology proved decisive in uncovering a concealed shotgun injury that had initially been mistaken for animal scavenging. The clustered nature of the radiopaque pellets visible on whole-body radiography strongly indicated a ballistic mechanism rather than postmortem destruction. Similar diagnostic value has been demonstrated in earlier forensic cases.^{4–10, 16, 17}

Regional case studies from India have emphasised the medicolegal importance of radiology in interpreting firearm injuries and preventing erroneous conclusions.^{4–7, 10} In particular, Pradeep and Shashikanth described a fatal homicidal shotgun wound at an atypical location, highlighting the diagnostic challenges posed by shotgun trauma. ⁶ Pinheiro et al. reported a case in which radiography revealed an intracranial pellet cloud in a body initially suspected of road traffic trauma, thereby excluding accidental causation and confirming fatal shotgun injury. ¹⁰

Atypical presentations of ballistic trauma may lead to misinterpretation. Buchade et al. described a series of cases demonstrating misleading ballistic patterns requiring careful radiological assessment for accurate medicolegal interpretation. ⁸ The present case similarly underscores the forensic value of radiology in identifying retained pellets and reconstructing projectile paths where external indicators have been lost due to decomposition or scavenging.

Radiological detection of metallic fragments aids in confirming firearm injuries and may reveal prior firearm-related trauma.^{18, 19}

Beyond shotgun wounds, analyses of bullet trajectories with skeletal involvement—such as the keyhole fracture described by Harada et al. and the cranial disintegration in a Krönlein shot reported by Gupta and Tiwari—underscore the capacity of bone to preserve ballistic signatures.^{20, 21}

Postmortem animal predation may simulate firearm defects, complicating interpretation. In such scenarios, forensic radiology—particularly micro-CT—can identify retained projectiles and gunshot residues even in decomposed remains.^{22, 23}

In the present case, scalloped wound margins, satellite pellet defects, and recovery of wad-like fragments indicated a close-range shotgun discharge. These findings were corroborated by examination of the shirt, although wound characteristics may vary with weapon modification and test-firing results. ²⁴

Conclusion