Death due to Liquified Petroleum Gas Inhalation Augmented with Plastic Bag Suffocation

Liquified petroleum gas usually contains butane and propane, which are the family of aliphatic hydrocarbons that are colourless and commercially available, sometimes abused as a volatile inhalant to obtain psychoactive effects or to commit suicide. Instances of non-suicidal death resulting from a combination of inhalation of hydrocarbon from liquified petroleum gas and plastic bag suffocation are uncommonly reported. A 44-year-old man was allegedly discovered naked, only partially covered with the comforter, inside his bedroom, with the head covered with a black and thin plastic bag connecting to a cooking gas cylinder tank. The plastic bag was modified to prevent a gas leak. Additionally, pornographic paraphernalia was found on the mobile phone beside him. No suicidal risk was noted before death. The investigation of deaths associated with the inhalation of liquified petroleum gas, together with the plastic bag around the head, is crucial for comprehending the underlying manner of death in such fatalities. The present case prompts inquiries into accidental, as the absence of clear suicidal indicators suggests the possibility of unintentional death.