Coroner's Report

 

Office of the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner

DATE and HOUR AUTOPSY PERFORMED:
6/14/2022, 8:30 a.m. by

Manish Agarwal, M.D.
555 Jackson Avenue
Oxford, MS 38655
662-234-XXXX (FAX 662-234-XXXX)

 

Assistant:

Victoria Witte, M.D.

 

Full Autopsy Performed

SUMMARY PRELIMINARY REPORT OF AUTOPSY

Name:
 REED, Douglas

Coroner's Case #:
 2022-062

Date of Birth:
 09/18/1990

Age:
 31

Race:
 Black

Sex:
 Male

Date of Death:
 6/12-13/2022

Body Identified by:
 Jake Hemphill, co-worker

Case #
 002829-13F-2022

Investigative Agency:
 Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department

EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT

 N/A

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

The autopsy is begun at 8:30 a.m. on June 14, 2022. The body is presented in a black body bag. The victim is wearing a white shirt, multicolored necktie, brown belt, khaki pants, blue underwear, tan socks, and brown shoes.

The body is that of a normally developed biracial (Caucasian/African-American) male measuring 70 inches and weighing 194 pounds, and appearing generally consistent with the stated age of 31 years. The body is cold following refrigeration and preservation is good on the unembalmed body. Lividity is well-set along the left side of the body with appropriate blanching of the pressure points. Rigor is resolving.

The scalp is bald and the head hair has been shaved. The body hair is mail and average. The irides are brown, and the eyes are closed and show significant signs of irritation. The nose and ears are unremarkable. The teeth are natural with some amalgam restorations. A yellow-orange residue is observed on the face and hands.

The chest and abdomen are normally formed, symmetrical, and without palpable masses. of normal contour. The back is straight and symmetrical. The anus is atraumatic. The external genitalia is that of a circumcised adult male and there is no evidence of injury. The upper and lower extremities are symmetric and normally developed.

There are no residual scars, markings or tattoos.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

HEAD--CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: The brain weighs 1,493 grams and is within normal limits. The calvarium and base of the skull are normally configured and have no fractures. The dura is intact, and there is no epidural or subdural hemorrhage.

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: The musculoskeletal system is intact, unremarkable, and within normal limits.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: The oral cavity shows no lesions, and there are no injuries to the lips, teeth, or gums. The cervical spine is in the midline and essentially unremarkable. The mucosa of the oral cavity, epiglottis, glottis, piriform sinuses, trachea, and major bronchi are anatomic and inflamed. No injuries are seen and there are no mucosal lesions. The hyoid bone, the thyroid, and the cricoid cartilages are intact. The lungs are unremarkable and weigh: right, 754 grams; left 412 grams. The left lung is atelectatic in association with hemothorax.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The heart weighs 440 grams. It appears to have a normal size and configuration, although evaluation is somewhat limited by extensive trauma from the gunshot wound. No evidence of atherosclerosis or gross ischemic changes of recent or remote origin is present.

GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM: The mucosa and wall of the esophagus are intact and inflamed. The gastric mucosa is intact and pink without injury. Approximately 27 ml of liquid is found in the stomach. The mucosa of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and rectum are intact. Externally the small intestine, appendix, and colon are unremarkable to inspection and palpation.

HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM: The liver weighs 1,483 grams. The gallbladder contains 35 ml of dark green bile, no stones, and is grossly normal. The extrahepatic biliary system is unremarkable. The pancreas shows the usual lobular architecture, mild autolysis, and is otherwise normal.

URINARY SYSTEM: The kidneys weigh: left, 150 grams; right, 151 grams. The kidneys are anatomic in size, shape, and location and are without lesions. The pelvic calyceal system and ureters are unremarkable. The urinary bladder contains 15 ml of clear yellow urine.

MALE GENITAL SYSTEM: The testicles, the penis, the prostate gland are anatomic to dissection.

TOXICOLOGY: Samples of central and peripheral blood, vitreous humor, gastric contents, urine, liver, and bile are submitted for toxicologic analysis.

SEROLOGY: A sample of right pleural blood is submitted in the EDTA tube. Routine toxicologic studies were ordered.

DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES - SUMMARY

(1) A gunshot entrance wound of the left side of the chest is centered approximately 19 inches below the top of the head and 2 inches left of midline. Upon inspection by the naked eye, gunpowder particles, gunpowder soot, and gunpowder stippling are not present on the skin surrounding the wound. The bullet is lodged in the subcutaneous tissues of the left side of the back approximately 21 inches below the top of the head and 3.5 inches left of midline. A deformed hollow point bullet is recovered and turned over to YCSD personnel.

The wound path is a sequential perforation of the left 4th intercostal space and the left 5th rib, pericardial sac, heart, diaphragm, spleen, left lung, and left posterior 10th rib.

Opinion: This is a fatal injury.

(2) Inflammation of eyes, respiratory tract, and epidermis on face and hands appears visually consistent with the substance commonly known as pepper spray. Samples were collected and submitted for analysis.

Opinion: These are non-fatal perimortem injuries.

LABORATORY DATA

Cerebrospinal fluid culture and sensitivity:

Gram stain: Unremarkable
Culture: No growth after 72 hours

Cerebrospinal fluid bacterial antigens:

Hemophilus influenza B: Negative
Streptococcus pneumoniae: Negative
N. Meningitidis: Negative
Neiserria meningitidis B/E. Coli K1: Negative

Drug Screen Results:

Urine screen {Immunoassay} was NEGATIVE.
Ethanol: 0.03 gm/dl, Blood (Heart)
Ethanol: 0.03 gm/dl, Vitreous

Millicent Schmid, Ph.D.
Chief Toxicologist
June 15, 2022

EVIDENCE COLLECTED

Click to enlarge

1. One (1) white shirt

2. One (1) multicolored necktie

3. One (1) pair khaki pants

4. One (1) brown belt

5. One (1) pair blue men's underwear

6. One (1) pair tan socks

7. One (1) pair brown men's shoes

8. One (1) men's wallet

9. One (1) slip of paper with "Michelle" and a seven-digit number handwritten on it

10. One (1) key ring with keys

11. One (1) partial package of mints

12. Assorted coins

13. Samples of Blood (type A+), Bile, Tissue (heart, lung, brain, kidney, liver, spleen), and yellow-orange residue observed on the face and hands.

14. Six (6) autopsy photographs.

15. Two (2) postmortem x-rays.

16. One (1) postmortem CT scan.

OPINION

Time of Death: Body temperature, rigor and livor mortis, and stomach contents approximate the time of death between 8:00 p.m. on June 12, 2022, and 7:00 a.m. on June 13, 2022.

Immediate Cause of Death: Penetrating gunshot wound of chest.

Manner of Death: Homicide

 

//Manish Agarwal, M.D.
Yoknapatawpha County Coroner's Office
June 15, 2022