J Indian Acad Forensic Med. July-September 2011, Vol. 33, No.

3 ISSN 0971-0973

Case Report
Importance of Adipocere in Determining the Cause of Death
*Mohit Gupta, **Gaurav V Jain
Abstract
Adipocere (term coined by Fourcroy in 1789) also known as corpse wax or grave wax or mortuary
wax , derives its name „adipo‟ and „cire‟ meaning the affinity with both fat and wax. It is a late but sure
sign of death. It becomes extremely difficult for crime investigators to determine the cause of death in
bodies in an advanced stage of decomposition. In such instances, changes like the formation of
adipocere and mummification help to preserve certain features and injuries that aid in the determination
of identity and in determination of the cause of death of the body. This paper highlights a case in which
adipocere was developed and its significance in determining the cause of death. However, decomposition
changes like the formation of adipocere, helps to preserve injuries which can aid the forensic experts in
opining about the cause of death and hence thereby assisting the law enforcers in administering of
justice.

Key Words: Adipocere, Cause of death, Investigations, Injuries

Introduction: Water is essential for the formation of

Adipocere [1] (term coined by Fourcroy
in 1789) also known as corpse wax [2] or grave
wax [2, 3] or mortuary wax [2], derives its name
„adipo‟ and „cire‟ meaning the affinity with both
fat and wax. It is a late but sure sign of death.
The bodies exposed to warm and humid climatic
conditions with the absence of air flow undergo
the formation of adipocere. In obese individuals,
well nourished new born infants and females
who have increased subcutaneous fat, the
formation of adipocere occurs quickly.[4,5,6]
Pre-existing fats such as olein undergo
hydrolysis and hydrogenation into higher fatty
acids which combine with calcium and
ammonium ions to form insoluble soaps which
being acidic inhibit the putrefactive bacteria. [7]
Hence Adipocere is relatively resistant
to both bacteriologic and chemical degradation.
[1, 8] Endogenous lipases and bacterial
enzymes hydrolyse the fat to free fatty acids.[8]
Bacterial enzymes such as Clostridium
perfringens [1,8,] clostridium welchii [3] convert
these free fatty acids to hydroxy fatty acids
leading to the formation of greasy or waxy
substances. These substances consist of
palmitic, oleic and stearic fatty acids with
glycerol. [1, 8]
Corresponding author:
*Senior Resident,
Deptt. of Forensic Medicine &Toxicology,
Vardhman Mahaveer Medical College & Safdarjung
Hospital, New Delhi- 110029
Email: drmohitfm@gmail.com
** Associate Professor
adipocere as it removes the glycerine that is
formed during the hydrolysis of fats. [7]
It has been demonstrated by Mant AK
that the intrinsic water content of the body may
be sufficient for the development of adipocere in
the body kept in lead sealed coffins. [6]
Adipocere is first formed in the
subcutaneous tissues of the body and then
subsequently affects the various other parts and
organs of the body, though sometimes the entire
body may be converted into adipocere.
Adipocere may persist for decades but finally it
either degenerates or is removed by mechanical
forces or by animals. [7] The smell of adipocere
has characteristically been described by WED
Evans as being earthy, cheesy and ammoniacle.
[1] It is similar to the smell of rancid butter. [6, 7]
Adipocere is inflammable and burns with a
feebly luminant yellowish flame and melts at
o
about 200 F. [6]
Case report:
A body of a female was recovered from
a shallow pond in rainy season near Gokulpuri
area in Delhi. The body had been disposed in a
plastic bag. Post mortem examination of the
body was conducted in Guru Teg Bahadur
hospital. On examination the bag was found to
be intact. The body was decomposed with
adipocere present all over the body [Fig 1], with
strong cheesy and ammoniacle odour.
On further examination there was a cut
wound present in the lower part of front of neck.
The internal neck structures including the
trachea, both the carotids and oesophagus had
been transacted [Fig 2]. The age of the body
was estimated to be 40 – 50 years by the

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J Indian Acad Forensic Med. July-September 2011, Vol. 33, No. 3
examination of pubic symphysis. Rest of the
examination of the body yielded no significant
results. The cause of death was given as cut
throat injury by sharp edged weapon.
Fig 1: Adipocere
Fig 2: Cut throat wound with cut Trachea and
carotids
Discussion:
Warm and moist conditions facilitate the
formation of adipocere. However, not all bodies
developing adipocere are found in water. For
example, bodies found in plastic bags which
provide a moist environment may also undergo
this change. [5] Adipocere has been known to
form within 3 weeks to 6 months of death though
the shortest time of formation of adipocere has
been reported as 3 days in India. [4]
It becomes extremely difficult to
determine the cause of death in bodies in
advanced stage of decomposition. The changes
of decomposition such as formation of adipocere
and mummification preserve the body to such an
extent that it is possible to determine the
wounds such as stab wounds or gunshots,
present on the body and in determining the
cause of death. The facial features are usually
recognizable and the time since death can be
estimated in adipocere. The presence of
adipocere has been useful in the past to
implicate people for various crimes and to
determine the technique used or weapon utilized
for committing the crime. In a case reported by
Sigrist T. etal [9] in a human skeleton with lumps
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ISSN 0971-0973
of adipocere the gunshot injuries were identified.
Bullet was recovered from a lump which further
allowed the identification of the weapon and the
confession of a 74 year old man as the
murderer. Another case was reported by
Masahiko kobayashi et al [10] in which, there
was two defects identified in a case of
adipocere, one of a gunshot wound and the
other a keyhole lesion.In a case where the
adipocere was developing in the body of a
female who was submerged for about three
months, the mark due to a cable wire on her
neck which was tied to concrete to aid in sinking
of the body was clearly demonstrable. [5]
This case holds importance due to the
formation of adipocere which resulted in
preservation of the fatal injury and in reaching
an opinion regarding the cause of death. The cut
throat wound and the internal structures of neck
clearly demonstrated that the injury was caused
by a sharp edged weapon. Also the fact that the
plastic bag containing the body was
undamaged, ruled out the possibility of damage
by predators or any other external influence. In
this case however the facial features were not
well preserved which hampered the identification
of deceased.
Conclusion:
In this case the opinion regarding the
cause of death was made possible only due to
the preservation of injuries due to the formation
of adipocere. It is extremely difficult to determine
the cause of death in decomposed bodies.
However, decomposition changes like the
formation of adipocere, helps to preserve
injuries which can aid the forensic experts in
opining about the cause of death and hence
thereby assisting the law enforcers in
administering of justice.
References:
1.Knight B. Forensic Pathology. 2nd ed. Arnold. 1996. p 70-2.
2.Adipocere. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adipocere. Cited on 2011 April
22.
3.Pillay VV. Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 14th ed.
Paras publication. 2004. p 106.
4.Biswas G. Review of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 1st ed Jaypee.
2010. Adipocere; p. 106.
5.Dix J, Graham M. Time of death, decomposition and identification. An
atlas. CRC press. 2000.
6.Vij K. Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. Principles and
practice. 4th ed. Elsevier. 2008; p. 129,130.
7.Reddy KSN. The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 29th
ed. K. Suguna Devi. 2010; p. 154-5.
8.Di Maio VJ, Di Maio D. Forensic Pathology. 2nd ed. CRC Press. 2001.
9.Sigrist T, Patscheider H, Schegg HK. Unusual disposal of cadavers.
Report on 2 cases. Arch Kriminol. 1982 Nov-Dec; 170(5-6):146-58.
10. Kobayashia M, Sakuradaa K, Nakajimaa M, Iwasea H, Hatanakaa
K, Matsudaa Y, Ikegayaa H, Takatorib T. A keyhole lesion
gunshot wound in a case of adipocere. Legal medicine. 1999
September; 1(3):p.170-173.