NCJ Number
240961
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 45 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2012 Pages: 150-154
Date Published
September 2012
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article presents a case report on the toxicology analysis of postmortem samples obtained as a result of the sudden death of a 21-year old male.
Abstract
Toxicology analysis carried out on several postmortem samples relating to the sudden death of a 21-year-old male, confirmed the presence of high concentrations of N-benzylpiperazine (BZP) and 3-trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP). Methamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy') and trace amounts of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and amphetamine were also detected. Items examined included femoral blood, vitreous, urine, liver, bile and gastric contents, which were all obtained during a postmortem examination that was carried out within 24 hours of the discovery of the body. A number of brightly colored tablets (recovered from the scene) were also analyzed and were found to contain primarily BZP and TFMPP. One type of tablet additionally contained MA. Postmortem blood and other specimens were analyzed by GC/MS with selected ion monitoring using TFMPP-d4 as the internal standard, gave the following results: BZP: femoral blood 21.4, vitreous 25.2, liver 120, bile, 200, gastric 80; TFMPP femoral blood 3.3, vitreous 1.7, urine 90, liver 84, bile 61 and gastric 37 (all results mg/l except liver mg/kg and gastric mg/78.1 g). Femoral blood also contained 0.22 mg/L of MA and 0.26 mg/L MDMA. (Published Abstract)