Coroner's Summary Report

Office of the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner

DATE and HOUR AUTOPSY PERFORMED:
01/07/2023 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 REPORT OF AUTOPSY

Name:
SMITH, Veronica Sherman

Coroner's Case #:
2023-09

Date of Birth:
09/10/1984

Age:
38

Race:
White

Sex:
Female

Date of Death:
01/06/2023

Body Identified by:
George O'Connor, husband of the deceased

Case #
000153-06A-2023

Investigative Agency:
Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department

EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT

N/A

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION - SUMMARY

The autopsy is begun at 8:30 a.m. on January 7, 2023. The body is presented in a black body bag.

When first viewed, the deceased is clothed in a blue denim short-sleeved shirt and blue denim jeans. The head is covered with a white plastic bag. Jewelry included a wedding ring, an engagement ring, and five bracelets, three around the right wrist and two around the left wrist.

The body is that of a normally developed white female of average nutritional status, measuring 66 inches and weighing 210 pounds, and appearing generally consistent with the stated age of 38 years.

Preservation is fair on the unembalmed body. The body is cold to the touch following refrigeration. Lividity is fixed on the posterior surface of the body.

The scalp is covered by dark blonde, straight hair approximately 20 cm in length and slightly brittle. The body hair is female and average.

The skull is symmetrical and intact. The eyes are closed. The irises are hazel. The sclerae are clear. The pupils measure 0.4 cm. The teeth are natural and well-maintained.

The anterior chest is of normal contour and is intact. The breasts are female and contain no palpable masses. The abdomen is protuberant, and the pelvis is intact. The external genitalia is female and unremarkable.

The back is symmetrical and intact. The upper and lower extremities are symmetric, normally developed, and intact. The hands and nails are clean, and evidence no injury.

There are no residual scars, markings, or tattoos.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION - SUMMARY

BODY CAVITIES: Generalized visceral congestion is observed. The diaphragm is intact. The organs are normally located.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: The brain weighs 1,340 grams and is within normal limits. The vasculature of the basilar and cerebral arterial circulatory systems is unremarkable. With the dura removed, the base of the skull is free of fractures.

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

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: The oral cavity shows no lesions. The mucosa is intact, and there are no injuries to the teeth or gums. Minor contusions are observed on the gingival mucosa. There is no obstruction of the airway. The mucosa of the epiglottis, glottis, piriform sinuses, trachea, and major bronchi are anatomic. No injuries and no mucosal lesions are seen. The hyoid bone, the thyroid, and the cricoid cartilages are intact. Generalized visceral congestion is observed. Petechial hemorrhages are observed in the visceral pleura. The lungs are congested and edematous. The lungs weigh: right, 400 grams; left, 350 grams.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The heart weighs 278 grams and has a normal size and configuration. The blood is dark blue in color. Moderate signs of atherosclerosis are 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 225 ml of partially digested semisolid food is found in the stomach. The mucosa of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, and rectum are intact.

URINARY SYSTEM: The kidneys weigh: left, 125 grams; right, 130 grams. The kidneys are anatomic in size, shape, and location and are without lesions.

FEMALE GENITAL SYSTEM: The structures are within normal limits. The deceased has given birth in the past. There are signs of recent consensual sexual activity.

TOXICOLOGY: Samples of right pleural blood 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) Contusion measuring 3.2 cm by .6 cm on the upper gingival mucosa.

Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury.

(2) Contusion measuring 2.4 cm by .5 cm on the lower gingival mucosa.

Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem 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
Neiserria meningitidis B/E. Coli K1: Negative

Drug Screen Results:

Urine screen {Immunoassay} was positive for phencyclidine and ethanol.
Ethanol: .03 g/dL, Blood (Heart)
Ethanol: .03 g/dL, Vitreous

GC-MS analysis was positive for ketamine.

Millicent Schmid, Ph.D.
Chief Toxicologist
January 16, 2023

EVIDENCE COLLECTED

1. Samples of hair, blood (type O+), urine, bile, and tissue (heart, lung, brain, kidney, liver, spleen)

2. Five (5) autopsy photographs

3. Two (2) postmortem x-rays

4. Two (2) standard fingerprint cards

5. One (1) pair women's denim jeans, blue

6. One (1) women's denim shirt, short-sleeved, blue

7. One (1) women's wedding band, gold

8. One (1) women's engagement ring, diamond and gold

9. Five (5) bracelets made up of numerous small decorations of silver, glass, stone, and bead. 

10. One (1) plastic bag, white, 17" x 18"

Clothing, jewelry, plastic bag, hair sample, blood sample, urine sample, and one of the fingerprint cards were transferred to the Crime Lab for further analysis and comparison.

OPINION

Time of Death: Body temperature, rigor and livor mortis, stomach contents, and other factors approximate the time of death between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on 01/06/2023.

Immediate Cause of Death: Asphyxiation

Manner of Death: Homicide

//Manish Agarwal, M.D.
Yoknapatawpha County Coroner's Office
January 16, 2023

 


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