A 36-year old man, having injured himself severely by smashing windows in a rage of fury, was arrested
by the police. He died despite resuscitation attempts. The forensic autopsy showed many superficial skin
lacerations, bruises and minor brain swelling, but there was no definitive cause of death. Toxicological
analysis showed a high concentration of mephedrone in femoral blood (5.1 mg/L) and traces of cocaine,
MDMA and oxazepam. The remaining dose of mephedrone in the stomach contents was estimated at
113 mg. Tablets that were found in the house of the deceased also contained mephedrone. We attribute
this man’s death to a fatal oral intake of mephedrone, which probably led to a state of excited delirium.
This was aggravated by blood loss from multiple wounds.