Demostrative suicides by fire in economic crisis time. Report of two cases

Suicide by fire is an uncommon way among all suicide methods. The manner of death by fire can be suicide, homicide or accident. Two cases of demonstrative suicides by fire are presented. Both very close in time and place. They occurred in Southern Italy in 2011, both very close in time and place. Unemployment and personal financial problems due to Italian economic crisis spread, were the causes of the insane act. The first case describes a man found burned and decomposed in the countryside two days after his disappearance. The autopsy, performed to exclude homicidal events, revealed carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of death. A long surviving time was also documented. The second case describes a man that set himself to fire in the main square of his town. Personal economic problems were the cause of the demonstrative suicide performed in front of a crowd of standing people. He died for complications of extensive burns after twelve days of hospitalization. The external examination was sufficient to detect cause and manner of death.