Terms: double suicide, triple suicide, quadruple suicide, etc.
People involved may include:
(1) an elderly couple with one or both in end-stage health
(2) lovers who are unable to marry
(3) family members facing unbearable shame or a disordered home life or loss of a child
(4) cult members
(5) two or more people facing capture, such as at the siege of Masada
There is often shared emotional issues such as despair, depression or mental illness.
The method of death can range from simple to complex. Simple methods include:
(1) jumping together
(2) hanging from the same rope over a central beam
(3) drinking poison
(4) nitrogen or helium gas asphyxia
Differential diagnosis:
(1) murder suicide
(2) accidental exposure in a home
(3) staged homicide
The site investigation and the presence of a note can be helpful in the investigation.
