Homicide or Suicide: How Nudity Factors into This Determination

Anecdotal reports of deceased celebrities being found nude abound, yet research is lacking regarding the frequency of nudity at death. Moreover, it is unknown if nudity at the time of death is a useful investigative clue or a distracting non-factor in equivocal death cases. This study used data from...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Craun, Sarah W. (Author) ; Tanner, Leah (Author) ; Clausen, Victoria (Author) ; Merola, Melissa A. (Author) ; Opanashuk, Leonard (Author) ; Keel, Timothy G. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2022
In: Homicide studies
Year: 2022, Volume: 26, Issue: 3, Pages: 292-307
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Suicides
Nudity
Policing
crime scene
Investigation
equivocal deaths
Description
Summary:Anecdotal reports of deceased celebrities being found nude abound, yet research is lacking regarding the frequency of nudity at death. Moreover, it is unknown if nudity at the time of death is a useful investigative clue or a distracting non-factor in equivocal death cases. This study used data from 119,145 homicides and suicides reported to the Centers for Disease Control to explore victim nudity, prior life stressors, and demographics on the likelihood of a death being a homicide or a suicide. Logistic regression results indicate that a female victim being found nude is a strong indicator of homicide.
ISSN:1552-6720
DOI:10.1177/10887679211013071