Perphenazine Distribution in a Postmortem Case

The case of a 34-year-old, mentally challenged, Caucasian female found dead in a group home is presented. Empty containers of perphenazine and valproic acid were found next to her bed. The perphenazine had been prescribed to another patient. No anatomic cause of death was determined at autopsy. Comprehensive testing of the heart blood for ethanol and drugs identified perphenazine at a concentration of 4.4 mg/L and valproic acid at a concentration of 950 mg/L. The distribution of perphenazine in other specimens was consistent with previously reported phenothiazine cases. The medical examiner ruled that the cause of death in this case was multiple drug intoxication and the manner of death was suicide.