Dumping of victims in walls

A case is described in which a 58-year-old woman was shot and then dumped in a wall. She was immured under the staircase in the basement of a residential house by the offender, who was acting alone. The body was not found until 8 months later. The victim had been reported missing by members of her family. The cool environment delayed the onset of putrefactive changes so that it was not difficult to conduct forensic pathologic investigations into the bullet wound, with traces of gunpowder residue found on the victim's head. The way in which the offense was committed did not provide any indication of diminished responsibility on the part of the 27-year-old offender, which was reflected in the judicial consequences.