Celebrity Autoerotic Asphyxiation

Product Description [from Wheatmark Book Publishers]

Of the various types of abnormal sexual behavior, the most dangerous and bizarre is autoerotic asphyxiation, also known as asphyxiophilia, sexual hanging, sexual asphyxia, scarfing, breath control play, and terminal sex. Though at least one autoerotic asphyxiation death occurs in the United States each day, it is almost unknown as a distinctive psychopathological entity in forensic medicine and psychology.

Dr. Sergey Sheleg and Dr. med. Edwin Ehrlich draw from their own research, as well as the work of others, to provide a comprehensive review of this problem. Bringing together information from a variety of disciplines, Autoerotic Asphyxiation: Forensic, Medical, and Social Aspects is a valuable resource for pathologists, criminal investigators, criminologists, coroners, physicians, attorneys, life insurance experts, and funeral directors, as well as parents and living AEA practitioners.

I thought this book might be of interest in light of reports on the death of actor David Carradine:

David Carradine may have died from sex act, say Thai police

“There was a rope tied around his neck and another rope tied at his sex organ, and the two ropes were tied together and hung in the closet,'' Lieutenant General Worapong Siewpreecha told reporters.

“Under these circumstances we cannot be sure that he committed suicide but he may have died from masturbation,” he said.

Stephen J. Hucker, MB, BS, FRCP(C), FRCPsych (Consulting Forensic Psychiatrist) relays several distinguishing features of hypoxyphilic fatality scenes:

First and foremost, it should always be possible to determine how the individual would have intended to control the degree of hypoxia [lack of oxygen] and to escape from the situation. The intention is to survive the ritual not die from it, as might appear at first glance. When death occurs it is almost always due to the failure of a strategy intended to ensure recovery. Many authorities have insisted that a “fail-safe” device is invariably found but in my experience the strategy may often have been simply reliance on subjective judgment, as by releasing hold on a ligature or pulling off a plastic bag, presumably when a feeling of giddiness supervenes.

Second, there must be evidence of sexual activity. Often the body may be found either nude, partially nude, or ... _________.

A number of unusual case reports have been published in the forensic literature. As described in Mind Hacks, these unfortunate deaths have included Autoerotic fatalities with power hydraulics, Complex autoerotic death with full body wrapping in a plastic body bag, and the painful pun Aqua-eroticum: an unusual autoerotic fatality in a lake involving a home-made diving apparatus.

On his website, Dr. Hucker describes his research on 15 living practitioners of autoerotic asphyxiation (AEA). In his experience,

...living practitioners of hypoxyphilia tend to be articulate and willing to discuss their thoughts, fantasies and motivations in great detail. Surprisingly, perhaps, half of them describe sadistic fantasies. They report that their activities are part of a more elaborate, usually masochistic, fantasy in which they are forced into painful, uncomfortable or humiliating situations. Some individuals have cross gender fantasies and some clearly describe being sexually aroused by being in physical danger and of struggling against physical restraints.

What do we know about David Carradine? The Smoking Gun has uncovered divorce papers filed by his ex-wife, Marina Anderson, who alleged that Carradine engaged in "deviant sexual behavior which was potentially deadly" (and worse, including incest and physical abuse).



Marina Anderson was contacted by TSG, and she stands by her statements.

Also of note in the divorce papers is reference to "his gal pal and Scientologist Annie Bierman" who eventually became his fifth wife. Gossip site GlossLip details Carradine's involvement in the dangerous cult of Hollywood celebrities:

Not surprisingly, another HUGE part missing from this story was David Carradine’s family being steeped in Scientology. Although David had denied being a Scientologist, he was however, quite the Scientology sympathizer, including multiple performances at at the Scientology Celebrity Center.

[NOTE: Also see this post by "Kung Fool" at alt.religion.scientology]
. . .

Where did Carradine’s involvement originate?

Perhaps when Carradine met Milton Katselas at an audition in October 1960. Katselas was a producer and acting coach at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and was renown for ruthlessly indoctrinating his students into Scientology by using a lot of pressure. Katselas told his students that they would improve their careers and make more money if they got into Scientology, when in fact the only one getting richer was Katselas, who was surely compensated by Scientology for every celebrity cash cow he delivered.

GlossLip confirms that

Carradine’s FIFTH wife, Ann Bierman, (since 2004) is an OTV in Scientology. She has a Scientology Web page set up, (set up by Scientology that is) where she states that Scientology has made her drug free.

Back to his death. Was it really an AEA accident, or was it suicide, or ...murder?

'David Carradine was murdered' claims agent, as the Kill Bill star's family ask the FBI to probe his death

The Mail Online article printed a rumor that "a footprint on the bed did not match his shoes."

In addition, none of the interviewees believe that Carradine could have possibly committed suicide. Then again, the same tabloid news outlet claims that Brad and Angelina are now sleeping in separate houses [worth a click to see Ms. Jolie's dress]...

So $cientology, celebrity, and autoerotic asphyxiation all come together in death.

"To suppress a truth is to give it force beyond endurance."
— Master Kan

David Carradine in Kung Fu