I just removed the 'Merge' option from our board. If you merge a post or thread with another, but accidentally use the post number of the one you are trying to move... the code deletes the old TOPIC, which at this time is itself. The post is still in the database, but it no longer has a TOPIC and can't be seen outside of the database.

7.4.2 (I know we are behind a bit)
scripts/domovepost.inc.php
scripts/domovethread.inc.php

// If this post was the original topic, then we need to delete it
if ($post_is_topic) {
$query = "
delete from {$config['TABLE_PREFIX']}TOPICS
where TOPIC_ID = ?
";
$dbh->do_placeholder_query($query,array($old_topic_id),__LINE__,__FILE__);
} // end if