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Office of the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner |
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DATE and HOUR AUTOPSY PERFORMED: Douglas Hargrove, M.D. |
Assistant:
Victoria Witte, M.D.
Full Autopsy Performed |
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SUMMARY PRELIMINARY REPORT OF AUTOPSY |
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EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT N/A
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION - SUMMARY The autopsy is begun at 8:30 A.M. on October 29, 2021. The body is presented in a black body bag. When first viewed, the deceased is clothed in blue denim jeans, a blue long-sleeved shirt, black boxer briefs, black socks, and black work boots. The body is that of a well-nourished, normally developed white male measuring 71 inches and weighing 210 pounds and appearing generally consistent with the stated age of 44 years. Preservation is good on the unembalmed body. The body is cold to the touch following refrigeration. Rigor is pronounced, and lividity is fixed on the posterior of the body. The head hair is brown with a maximal length of 2 inches. The body hair is male and average. The skull is symmetric with the injuries described below. The eyes are open, and the irides are brown. The nose and ears are unremarkable. The teeth are natural with some amalgam restorations. The face is covered in light gray makeup. Three latex wound prosthetics measuring approximately 1.5 inches x 0.5 inches each are attached to the left side of the face. Additional latex makeup is present on the left and right sides of the face. A latex wound prosthetic measuring approximately 5 inches x 2.5 inches is present on the neck. Detailed below are genuine injuries observable before and after the makeup and prosthetics were removed. The anterior chest is of normal contour and is intact. The abdomen is protuberant, and the pelvis is intact. The external genitalia is male and unremarkable, and there is no evidence of injury. The back is symmetrical with the injuries described below. The upper and lower extremities are symmetric and normally developed. The hands and nails are covered in a reddish-brown substance but evidence no incised wounds. A latex wound prosthetic measuring approximately 7 inches x 3 inches is present on the left arm. Non-fatal injuries to the extremities are detailed below. There is a tattoo on the upper right arm of a red heart with a banner across it. On the banner, in a gothic font, is the word "Bacon." There are no additional tattoos, residual scars, or markings.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION - SUMMARY CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: The brain weighs 1,432 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. 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 and no mucosal lesions are seen. The hyoid bone, the thyroid, and the cricoid cartilages are intact. The lungs are unremarkable and weigh: right, 362 grams; left, 370 grams. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The heart weighs 319 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 1,381 grams. The gallbladder contains 4 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, 144 grams; right, 149 grams. The kidneys are anatomic in size, shape, and location and are without lesions. The pelvic calyceal system and ureters are unremarkable. The bladder contains 7 cc of clear yellow urine. MALE GENITAL SYSTEM: The testicles, the penis, the prostate gland are anatomic to dissection. 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 studies were ordered.
DIAGNOSIS (1) Blunt force head trauma. Multiple lacerations, abrasions, and contusions of the head, including two large, branched, full-thickness lacerations of the parietal scalp. Extensive skull fractures with hinge fracture of skull base. Epidural, subdural, and subarachnoid hemorrhages. Ventral cerebral cortical contusions. (2) Scattered abrasions and contusions of torso and extremities.
DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES - SUMMARY (1) The right parietal and temporal scalp has a confluent, pink contusion. On the posterior right temporal region is a 1-1/2 inch x 3/8 inch, irregular, superficial, red abrasion. On the posterior right parietal scalp is a 3-1/2 inch x 2-5/8 inch coarsely stellate, complex, branched, full-thickness laceration with partial avulsion. The branches individually range from 1/2 inch to 2 inches in length. There is undermining around the wound up to 1 inch in depth. The edges have abrasion, and tissue bridging is evident. Skull fractures are visible in the depths of the wound. Opinion: This is a fatal injury. (2) Inside the right frontal hairline is a 1-inch, curvilinear, superficial, red abrasion with a background of pink contusion. On the posterior right frontal scalp is a 2-inch, jagged, full-thickness laceration with undermining of up to 1 inch on its lateral side. Just lateral to this full-thickness laceration is a 1-3/8 inches jagged, partial-thickness laceration. Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury. (3) On the posterior right parietal scalp is a 6-1/2 inches x 4 inches coarsely stellate, complex, branched, full-thickness laceration with partial avulsion. The branches individually range from 3/4 inch to 2 inches in length. Anteriorly, it has undermining to a length of 2 inches. Posteriorly, there is undermining to a length of 1-7/8 inches. The laceration has extensive tissue bridging. On the right temporal scalp is a 2-1/4 inches curvilinear, full-thickness laceration with slight marginal abrasion and with evident tissue bridging. It has inferior undermining to a depth of 3/4 inch. Skull fractures are visible in the depths of the wound. Opinion: This is a fatal injury. (4) On the right side of the forehead is a 1-inch x 1-inch, raised, purple contusion with overlying 7/8 inch x 3/4 inch irregular, superficial, red-brown abrasion, and a 1-1/8 inch, jagged, partial-thickness laceration. Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury. (5) On the left shoulder blade is a 2-inch x 3-inch raised, pink contusion with overlying 1-inch x 1-inch irregular, superficial, red-brown abrasion. Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury. (6) On the dorsum of the left forearm is a 1-1/4 inch x 1 inch, irregular, pink contusion. On the dorsum of the left hand is a 1/2-inch x 1-1/2 inch irregular, raised, pink and purple contusion. The left arm has no palpable fractures. Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury. (7) On the dorsum of the right hand is a 1/2-inch x 1/8-inch irregular, superficial, red abrasion within a 1/8-inch x 3/8-inch irregular, pink and purple contusion. The right arm has no palpable fractures. Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury. (8) On the medial aspect of the right thigh is a 2-1/2 inch linear, superficial, red abrasion. On the right shin is a 1-inch x 1-inch irregular, poorly defined, yellow and green contusion. On the lateral aspect of the right knee is a 2-inch x 1-inch, irregular, pink contusion. The right leg has no palpable fractures. Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury. (9) On the anterior aspect of the proximal left thigh is a 4-inch x 3-inch irregular, pink-blue-purple contusion, within which is a 4-inch linear, red component. The left leg has no palpable fractures. Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury.
LABORATORY DATA Cerebrospinal fluid culture and sensitivity: Gram stain: Unremarkable Cerebrospinal fluid bacterial antigens: Hemophilus influenza B: Negative
Preliminary Toxicology Results BLOOD: ETHANOL: NEG Millicent Schmid, Ph.D.
EVIDENCE COLLECTED 1. Samples of hair, blood (type O+), urine, bile, and tissue (heart, lung, brain, kidney, liver, spleen) 2. Eleven (11) autopsy photographs 3. Seven (7) radiographs 4. One (1) postmortem CT scan 5. One (1) postmortem MRI 6. Stomach contents (approx. 17 ml) 7. Debris collected from under the fingernails of both hands 8. The nails of both hands were cut and preserved 9. Ten (10) scalp hair samples 10. Two (2) standard fingerprint cards
Clothing and Personal Effects: 1. One (1) men's long-sleeved shirt, blue 2. One (1) pair men's denim jeans, blue 3. One (1) pair men's boxer briefs, black 4. Two (2) men's socks, black 5. Two (2) men's work boots, black Fingernail scrapings, clothing, 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 witness statements approximate the time of death between 6:00 and 7:00 P.M. on October 27, 2021. Cause of Death: Blunt force, penetrating cranial trauma. Manner of Death: Homicide
//Douglas Hargrove, M.D. |
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