Coroner's report

Office of the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner

DATE and HOUR AUTOPSY PERFORMED:
4/1/2024, 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:
 MARTINSON, Wendell Robert

Coroner's Case #:
 2024-045

Date of Birth:
 03/03/1971

Age:
 53

Race:
 White

Sex:
 Male

Date of Death:
 3/31/2024

Body Identified by:
 Leo Ingram, co-worker

Case #
 001653-31C-2024

Investigative Agency:
 Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department

EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT

 N/A

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

The autopsy is begun at 8:30 a.m. on April 1, 2024. The body is presented in a black body bag. The victim is wearing a cream-colored suit jacket, cream-colored vest, cream-colored pants, light blue dress shirt, blue and yellow tie, red and blue boxer shorts, navy blue socks, and brown tasseled loafers.

The body is that of a normally developed white male measuring 73 inches and weighing 237 pounds, and appearing generally consistent with the stated age of 53 years. The body is cold following refrigeration, and preservation is good on the unembalmed body.

The head hair is brown with a maximal length of 1 inch. The body hair is male and average. The irides are blue, and the eyes are closed. The nose and ears are unremarkable. The teeth are natural with some amalgam restorations.

The chest is of normal contour. The back is symmetrical and an incised wound is observed (Injury 3). The external genitalia are that of an adult male, and there is no evidence of injury. The upper and lower extremities are symmetric and normally developed. Contusions are observed on the left and right hands (Injury 4, Injury 5).

There are no residual scars, markings, or tattoos.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

HEAD--CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: The brain weighs 1,431 grams and is within normal limits. Two incised wounds are observed on the forehead (Injury 1) and the neck (Injury 2).

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 lips, teeth, or gums. There is no obstruction of the airway. The cervical spine is in the midline and essentially unremarkable. The mucosa of the 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, 357 grams; left 368 grams.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The heart weighs 310 grams and has a normal size and configuration. Cardiac valves and coronary ostia are anatomic and unremarkable. 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 18 ml of liquid 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.

HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM: The liver weighs 1,379 grams. The gallbladder contains 3.5 cc 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, 146 grams; right, 152 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 no measurable urine.

MALE GENITAL SYSTEM: The testicles, the penis, and the prostate gland are anatomic to dissection.

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) A ragged incised wound measuring 1.6 inches long on the forehead, 1.3 inches above the left eye, and 1 inch below the hairline.

Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury.

(2) A ragged incised wound measuring 4.7 inches long on the left side of the neck, from .5 inches below the hairline to 3 inches below the left ear, transecting multiple blood vessels.

Opinion: This is a fatal injury.

(3) A ragged incised wound measuring 2 inches long by 1 inch wide on the back 1.7 inches left of T4 and T5 vertebrae.

Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury.

(4) A contusion measuring 1 inch wide spanning the fingers of the left hand just below the proximal interphalangeal joints.

Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury.

(5) A contusion measuring 3.9 inches long by 1 inch wide on the dorsal aspect of the right hand.

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 NEGATIVE.
Ethanol: 0 gm/dl, Blood (Heart)
Ethanol: 0 gm/dl, Vitreous

Millicent Schmid, Ph.D.
Chief Toxicologist
April 3, 2024

EVIDENCE COLLECTED

Marks observed on pants and shirt
(Click to enlarge)

1. One (1) cream-colored suit jacket

2. One (1) cream-colored vest

3. One (1) pair cream-colored pants

4. One (1) light blue men's dress shirt

5. One (1) pair red and blue men's boxer shorts

6. One (1) pair navy blue socks

7. One (1) pair brown men's tasseled loafers

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

9. Thirteen (13) autopsy photographs.

10. One postmortem CT scan.

11. One postmortem MRI.

OPINION

Time of Death: Body temperature, rigor and livor mortis, and stomach contents approximate the time of death between 3:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on March 31, 2024.

Immediate Cause of Death: Exsanguination due to multiple incised wounds (head, neck, back).

Manner of Death: Homicide

 

//Manish Agarwal, M.D.
Yoknapatawpha County Coroner's Office
April 3, 2024

 

 


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