Homicide in a Horse Barn?

As forensic scientists and physicians, forensic pathologists are duty-bound to perform their examinations with integrity and professionalism. The practice of medicine requires knowledge regarding the history and presentation of the patient. In forensic pathology, the history includes scene and other investigative information, and the decedent's medical and social history. Such information is important for the correct certification of the cause and manner of death. Herein, the authors present a case originally thought by police and death investigators to represent a sexual-assault-related homicide, as an elderly female's body was found partially nude, and apparently beaten, on the muddy floor of her horse barn. At autopsy, some of the injuries were determined to be postmortem and caused by horses. Additionally, gastric Wishnewsky spots indicated hypothermia as a probable mechanism of death. Finally, an acute hip fracture was identified, which explained why she was incapable of moving from her potentially dangerous environment.