Table 1. Characteristics of cases and findings of investigations.

	Case 1	Case 2	Case 3	Case 4
Sex	Male	Female	Female	Female
Age	53	60	86	40
Autopsy findings	Burnings of TBSA: 45% Compression fracture of the left temporal bone Traces of soot in the respiratory tract Absence of tissue reaction Cherry-red lividity	Multiple stabbing-cutting injuries to the chest with pulmonary lesions No soot in the respiratory tract Absence of fluid filled epidermal blisters	Burnings of TBSA: 43% Slash wound to the neck, complete cut of the left superior thyroid artery Stab wounds to the pubic area and both thighs, fully severed left femoral vein No soot in the respiratory tract Pink-colored lividity	Burnings of TBSA: 90% Nonfatal injuries on the face No soot in the respiratory tract Absence of tissue reaction Light purple lividity
Histological findings	no inflammatory reaction	no inflammatory reaction	no inflammatory reaction	no inflammatory reaction
Toxicology	58.8% CO-Hb 3.07‰ ethyl alcohol. Toxic, narcotic, potent substances not found	0% CO-Hb 0‰ ethyl alcohol. Toxic, narcotic, potent substances not found	0% CO-Hb 0‰ ethyl alcohol. Toxic, narcotic, potent substances not found	0% CO-Hb 3.26‰ ethyl alcohol. Toxic, narcotic, potent substances not found
Cause of death and conclusion	Exposure to toxic effect of CO and combustion products Postmortem burning	Acute respiratory function and heart failure due to stabbing-cutting injuries of the chest Postmortem burning	Acute external bleeding caused by multiple stabbing-cutting and cutting injuries Postmortem burning	Asphyxia Postmortem burning

TBSA – total body surface area; CO-Hb – carboxyhemoglobin; CO – carbon monoxide