Two cases of triple suicide pacts using barbecue charcoal

Within 5 weeks 2 suicide incidents happened where in each case 3 young men committed suicide together. In both cases the 3 men died of carbon monoxide intoxication from barbecue charcoal which was burnt inside an apartment of one of the men using a tin bucket or a barbecue. Case 1: the bodies of the 3 men (all aged 20 years) were found lying in a room which was sealed with adhesive tape. In the room there was a tin bucket filled to 10 cm with the ashes of barbecue charcoal. Toxicology of femoral vein blood showed carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentrations between 69% and 78% and blood alcohol concentrations between 0.74aEuro degrees and 0.86aEuro degrees. Case 2: the putrefied bodies of 3 men (aged 20, 23 and 25 years, respectively) were also found in a sealed room of an apartment. There were 2 barbecues and a tin bucket in the room all filled with charcoal ash. Toxicology from femoral vein blood showed COHb concentrations between 36% and 55% and blood alcohol concentrations between 0.5aEuro degrees and 1.5aEuro degrees. In addition tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-COOH) were detected in the blood of 2 of the men.