Coroner's report

Office of the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner

DATE and HOUR AUTOPSY PERFORMED:
04/17/2023, 8:00 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:
 TATUM, Charles

Coroner's Case #:
 2023-049

Date of Birth:
 07/27/1977

Age:
 45

Race:
 White

Sex:
 Male

Date of Death:
 04/12/2023 (estimated)

Body Identified by:
 Sgt. Steve Spearman, YCSD

Case #
 001905-16D-2023

Investigative Agency:
 Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department

EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT

 N/A

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

The autopsy is begun at 8:00 A.M. on April 17, 2023. The body is presented in a black body bag. At the time of examination, the body is not clothed.

The body is that of a normally developed, well nourished Caucasian male measuring 74 inches in length, weighing 210 pounds, and appearing generally consistent with the stated age of forty-five years. The body is cold and unembalmed. Pronounced unblanching lividity is present on the posterior of the body.

The scalp is covered by straight, brown-gray hair with a maximal length of 28.2 cm. The body hair is male and average. The head is asymmetric, and there is evidence of a close proximity gunshot wound to be described below.

The eyes are open and the irises are hazel. Pupils are asymmetrically dilated. The teeth are natural and well-maintained and show injuries to be described below.

The anterior chest and abdomen are symmetric and intact.

The external genitalia is male and unremarkable. Organic residue is present indicative of vaginal penetration prior to or shortly after the time of death. Swabs were taken for further analysis to confirm this assessment.

The back is symmetrical and intact. The upper and lower extremities are symmetric, normally developed, and intact.

There are no residual scars, markings or tattoos.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION – SUMMARY

Multiple deep lacerations transversing the left and right parietal lobes of the brain consistent with bullet impact and surrounding bone fragment penetration, originating at the bullet point of entry and transversing the parietal lobes in a classic wound channel formation at approximately a 60° inferior angle and 20° anterior angle.

All other organs are within normal limits. No underlying pathological disease conditions or congenital anomalies were observed.

DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES - SUMMARY

INJURIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK

(1) First-degree burn on right parietal region of the head.

Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury.

(2) Entry puncture wound consistent with a gunshot on right parietal region of the head, 1 inch above and 1-1/2 inches behind the right ear, penetrating parietal bone transversing right and left parietal lobes with the bullet coming to rest in the left mandible.

Opinion: This is a fatal injury.

(3) Exit puncture wound, left cheek, caused by tooth avulsions from bullet impact to let mandible.

Opinion: These are non-fatal injuries.

(4) Missing tooth, one bicuspid. Refer to injury #3.

Opinion: This is a non-fatal injury.

TOXICOLOGIC STUDIES

Blood Ethanol: .05

Urine Drugs: None

Clinicopathologic Correlation: None

EVIDENCE COLLECTED

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

2. One (1) samples collected from under the deceased's fingernails

3. Six (6) autopsy photographs

4. One (1) postmortem CT scan

5. One (1) postmortem MRI

6. One (1) hollow point bullet fragment

Hollow point bullet fragment transferred to Mississippi State Crime Lab for further analysis.

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. on 04/12/2023 and 3:00 P.M. 04/13/2023.

Cause of Death: Cerebral lacerations due to gunshot wound.

Manner of Death: Homicide

REMARKS

The decedent was originally presented to this office as a suicide victim. Extensive examination of the mechanism of injury suggests that self-infliction of this injury is highly improbable. YCSD detectives were notified of this finding immediately upon conclusion of the preliminary examination.

 

//Manish Agarwal, M.D.
Yoknapatawpha County Coroner's Office
April 18, 2023


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