Office of the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner

DATE and HOUR AUTOPSY PERFORMED:
 2/23/2020, 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:
 DANIELS, Laurie

Coroner's Case #:
 2020-117

Date of Birth:
 2/22/1994

Age:
 26

Race:
 White

Sex:
 Female

Date of Death:
 12/15/2019 - 2/15/2020 (estimated)

Body Identified by:
 dental records

Case #
 000989-22B-2020

Investigative Agency:
 Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department

EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT

 N/A

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

The autopsy is begun at 8:30 A.M. on February 23, 2020. The remains are presented in a blue and white bucket labeled "Pool Free." The remains inside the bucket consist of a human head. No other body parts are found in the bucket.

The hair is white and approximately 22 inches in length. The skin is blackened and blistered, consistent with a chemical burn. The head is symmetric and the eyes are closed. The irises are green and the pupils measure 0.5 cm. Evidence of inflammation is noted around the eyes and mouth. The teeth are natural and well-maintained.

A tattoo of a butterfly measuring 1/2-inch by 1/2-inch is observed behind the left ear. There are no other residual scars, markings or tattoos.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

The head is severed between the C1 and C2 vertebrae.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: The brain weighs 1,204 grams and has unremarkable meninges. The vasculature of the basilar and cerebral arterial circulatory systems are unremarkable. With the dura removed, the base of the skull is free of fractures.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: The oral cavity shows signs of inflammation. The mucosa is intact. There is no obstruction of the airway. The mucosa of the epiglottis, glottis and piriform sinuses are anatomic and show signs of inflammation. The lungs are not present.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: N/A

GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM: N/A

HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM: N/A

URINARY SYSTEM: N/A

FEMALE GENITAL SYSTEM: N/A

TOXICOLOGY: Samples of hair are submitted for toxicologic analysis.

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

DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES - SUMMARY

(1) Decapitation between C1 and C2 vertebrae

Opinion: This is a fatal injury.

LABORATORY DATA

Drug Screen Results:

Millicent Schmid, Ph.D.
Chief Toxicologist
February 27, 2020

EVIDENCE COLLECTED

1. Samples of Hair, Blood (type A+), and Brain Tissue

2. Seven (7) autopsy photographs

3. One (1) postmortem CT scan

4. One (1) postmortem MRI

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

6. Three (3) postmortem dental x-rays

Hair sample, blood sample, and tissue sample transferred to Crime Lab for further analysis.

OPINION

Time of Death: Effects of chemicals in which the head was immersed significantly affect the ability to determine the time of death. Given available factors, estimated time of death is between 12/15/2019 - 2/15/2020.

Immediate Cause of Death: Undetermined

Manner of Death: Homicide

Remarks: The decapitation is a potentially fatal wound but may not have been the cause of death. The victim may have been already deceased by causes unknown at the time of decapitation. Given the rush nature of this report, full analysis results are not yet complete. However, the decapitation tends to indicate that death was not due to accident, natural causes, or suicide. Pending toxicology results may provide additional information in this regard.

Deceased was presented as John Doe #005-2014 and subsequently identified through dental records and preliminary PCR DNA as Laurie Daniels.

Additional preliminary PCR DNA results from tests conducted on the remains known as Jane Doe #9-2020 from Pontotoc County, Jane Doe #1403 from Panola County, and Jane Doe #2020-002 from Calhoun County indicate that the all of the remains are from the same person, Laurie Daniels.

//Manish Agarwal, M.D.
Yoknapatawpha County Coroner's Office
February 27, 2020