Coroner's report

 

Office of the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner

DATE and HOUR AUTOPSY PERFORMED:
1/24/2021, 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:
 BROOKS, Spenser

Coroner's Case #:
 2021-014

Date of Birth:
 4/12/1979

Age:
 41

Race:
 White

Sex:
 Male

Date of Death:
 1/23/2021

Body Identified by:
 Virginia Brooks, wife of the deceased

Case #
 000333-23A-2021

Investigative Agency:
 Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department

EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT

 N/A

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

The autopsy is begun at 8:30 a.m. on January 24, 2021. The body is presented in a black body bag. The victim is wearing a black jacket, a brown/white/black plaid shirt, white cotton undershirt, blue jeans, blue boxer-style men's underwear, white socks, and brown hiking boots.

The body is that of a normally developed, well-nourished white male measuring 69 inches in length, weighing 178 pounds, and appearing generally consistent with the stated age of 41 years. The body is cold following refrigeration and preservation is good on the unembalmed body. Lividity is fixed on the posterior of the body.

Scalp hair is brown and approximately 2 cm in length. Closely cropped facial hair is present on the chin, jawline, and upper lip. The body hair is male and average. The eyes are open. The irides are hazel and the pupils are equal and measure 0.3 cm. The nose and ears are unremarkable. The teeth are natural with some amalgam restorations. A penetrating wound is visible on the head.

The anterior chest is of normal contour. The breasts are male and contain no palpable masses. The abdomen is flat. The back is straight and symmetrical. The external genitalia is that of a male adult, and there is no evidence of injury. The anus is not dilated and has no evidence of injury. The upper and lower extremities are symmetric and normally developed with no significant deforming injuries.

There is an appendectomy scar on the abdomen. There are no additional residual scars, tattoos, or markings.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

HEAD--CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: The skull has multiple fractures and other damage. The brain weighs 1,410 grams and is within normal limits.

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. 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, 579 grams; left 507 grams.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The heart weighs 505 grams. It appears to have a normal size and configuration. 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 gray-pink without lesions or injuries. The gastric mucosa is intact and pink without injury. Approximately 30 ml of digested semisolid food 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 1,783 grams. The gallbladder contains 28 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, 238 grams; right, 223 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 6 ml of clear yellow urine.

MALE GENITAL SYSTEM: The penis and the prostate gland are anatomic to dissection and their structures are within normal limits. The testicles are anatomic to dissection and within normal structural limits.

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

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

DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES - SUMMARY

(1) A short to medium-range gunshot wound of the frontal area of the head with extensive craniocerebral injuries. The wound track is front to back at a slight downward angle. No powder stipple is identified. No soot is identified.

Opinion: This is a fatal injury.

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
Neisseria meningitides B/E. Coli K1: Negative

Drug Screen Results:

Urine screen {Immunoassay} was positive for Caffeine.
Ethanol: 0 gm/dl, Blood (Heart)
Ethanol: 0 gm/dl, Vitreous

CLINICOPATHOLOGIC CORRELATION: None.

Millicent Schmid, Ph.D.
Chief Toxicologist
January 28, 2021

EVIDENCE COLLECTED

1. One (1) men's jacket, black

2. One (1) men's shirt, plaid

3. One (1) men's undershirt, white

4. One (1) men's denim jeans, blue

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

6. Two (2) men's socks, white

7. Two (2) men's hiking boots, brown

8. One (1) receipt, Kroger Fuel Center, dated January 23, 2021, found in right front jeans pocket

9. One (1) key ring with five (5) keys, found in right front jeans pocket

10. One (1) wallet, found in right rear jeans pocket

11. Samples of Blood (type O+), Bile, and Tissue (heart, lung, brain, kidney, liver, spleen)

12. Six (6) autopsy photographs

13. One (1) postmortem CT scan

14. One (1) postmortem MRI

15. Two (2) postmortem x-rays

OPINION

Time of Death: Body temperature, rigor and livor mortis, and stomach contents approximate the time of death between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on January 23, 2021.

Immediate Cause of Death: Gunshot wound to the head

Manner of Death: Homicide

 

//Manish Agarwal, M.D.
Yoknapatawpha County Coroner's Office
January 28, 2021

 


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