A case of serial homicide by injection of succinylcholine

The abstract of this paper was presented at the 14th Meeting of the interna tional Association of Forensic Sciences, Tokyo in 1996. We report a bizarre criminal case of suspected serial homicide by injection of a muscle relaxant (succinylcholine). Five victims were found buried in a rural area. In two victims showing moderate decomposition (about three mo nths after death), intense pulmonary oedema with pleural effusion was obser ved. Evidence of a puncture site was found in one of the victims. Succinylc holine could not be detected in the victims, but was identified in a syring e found near the corpses. The 40-mg ampule dose of succinylcholine administ ered intramuscularly to the victims, possibly causing prolonged apnea, was considered to be at least around the minimum lethal dose, although the comb ined effect of the sedation with hypnotics also used was not negligible.