INCIDENT REPORT (SUMMARY)

Investigating Officer(s): Detective S. Murphy, Detective T. Armstrong

Incident No.: 002917-04J-2008

Date: 4/08/08, 2:22 p.m.

Incident Address: Highway 7 South

Incident: Homicide

Victim's Name: Charles Tatum

Victim's Age: 51

Victim's Address: 107-B Combs Street

Suspects: None at this time

All detailed reports on file

DESCRIPTION:

At 2:22 p.m., Coroner Jennifer Johnson contacted Detectives Sam Murphy and Ted Armstrong regarding her findings in the autopsy of Detective Charles Tatum (YCSD Incident # 002904-03J-2008). Coroner Johnson requested the detectives respond immediately to the Coroner's Officer for further information.

Reporting Investigators (R/Is) Murphy and Armstrong arrived at the Coroner's Office at 2:37 p.m.

FINDINGS:

Upon arrival, Coroner Johnson stated that the results of her autopsy on Detective Charles Tatum indicated his death was the result of homicide, not suicide as initially suspected. Coroner Johnson showed R/Is the body of the deceased and indicated the location of the entry wound just above and behind the right ear. Coroner Johnson stated that the position of the entry wound and the 60° angle of the wound path are inconsistent with a finding of suicide and are indicative of homicide. Coroner Johnson said additional tests were conducted during the autopsy and results would be included in her report.

Immediately following their conversation with Coroner Johnson, R/Is contacted Sheriff Taylor Sheldon via land line and notified him of the Coroner's findings in the Tatum autopsy.

R/Is then contacted Internal Affairs via land line and notified them of the Coroner's findings in the Tatum autopsy.

R/Is then went to the crime scene at 107-B Combs Street and notified the on-site Internal Affairs personnel that the designation had been changed to homicide and they should adjust their actions accordingly. R/Is further requested that Internal Affairs provide by the end of the day an exclusionary list of all investigators who have been on-site at any time since the discovery of the body. Receipt of that list is pending at the time of this filing.

R/Is then notified CSU to report to the scene at 107-B Combs Street as soon as possible to collect evidence.

The crime scene remains sealed for ongoing processing by CSU and Internal Affairs.

REPORT FILED 4/8/08, 4:55 P.M.

//Sam Murphy, Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Detective

ATTEST

//Ted Armstrong, Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Detective