Coroner's report

 

Office of the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner

DATE and HOUR AUTOPSY PERFORMED:
9/13/2024, 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:
 SHAW, Jerry Dean

Coroner's Case #:
 2024-116

Date of Birth:
 7/19/1993

Age:
 31

Race:
 Hispanic

Sex:
 Male

Date of Death:
 9/12/2024

Body Identified by:
 Lynette Martinson, co-worker

Case #
 004745-12I-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 September 12, 2024. The body is presented in a black body bag. The victim is wearing a blue hospital scrubs-style shirt and pants, blue boxer shorts, black socks, and black sneakers.

The body is that of a normally developed, well-nourished Hispanic male measuring 71 inches in length, weighing 210 pounds, and appearing generally consistent with the stated age of 31 years. The body is cold following refrigeration and preservation is good on the unembalmed body. Lividity is well-set along the posterior of the body with appropriate blanching of the pressure points. Rigor mortis is resolving.

Scalp hair is short, brown, and straight. Closely cropped facial hair is present on the chin. The body hair is male and average. The eyes are open. The irides are brown, and the corneas are cloudy. The nose and ears are unremarkable. The teeth are natural with some amalgam restorations. Contusions are visible on the right forehead (Injury 1) and the nape of the neck (Injury 2).

The anterior chest is of normal contour and is intact. The breasts are male and contain no palpable masses. The abdomen is distended by gas. The back is straight and symmetrical. The external genitalia are those 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.

Tattoos depicting fantasy dreamscapes containing demonic imagery, weaponry, and religious icons are present, encircling the neck and covering both arms. There are no additional residual scars or markings.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

HEAD--CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: The skull is symmetric, and the calvarium and base of the skull are normally configured and have no fractures. The brain weighs 1,493 grams and is within normal limits.

Examination of the brain revealed a large basal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with extension into the ventricular system. The vessels of the circle of Willis were of normal anatomic configuration, and examination using a dissecting microscope failed to identify an intracranial source of the hemorrhage.

The vertebral arteries in the neck were then dissected and examined. The right VA was normal. The left VA contained a point of rupture with surrounding hemorrhage with a small amount of adjacent extradural hemorrhage (Injury 4).

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, 362 grams; left 355 grams.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The heart weighs 310 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 125 ml of partially 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 1,383 grams. The gallbladder contains 32 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, 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 11 ml of clear yellow urine.

MALE GENITAL SYSTEM: The testicles, the penis, and 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.

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

DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES - SUMMARY

(1) A 4.0-inch x 0.5-inch curved, linear contusion on the right side of the forehead, beginning 1.0-inch superior to the right eyebrow, extending laterally and superiorly, and ending near the top of the head.

Opinion: This is a non-fatal antemortem injury.

(2) A dark reddish-purple contusion, linear-rectangular in shape, approximately 1.0-inch x 4 inches, at the nape of the neck with an associated contusion of the underlying paravertebral neck muscles.

Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury in itself but is likely the cause of Injury 4.

(3) Abrasions throughout the left side of the left upper neck and left mastoid process

Opinion: These are non-fatal perimortem injuries.

(4) A hemorrhage measuring 0.4 x 0.25 x 0.25 inches, with associated arterial rupture 0.35 inches proximal to the point at which the artery penetrated the dura.

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}:

BLOOD   ETHANOL   NEG
BLOOD   CANNABINOIDS-ETS   POS
BLOOD   COCAINE-ETS   NEG
BLOOD   OPIATES-ETS   NEG
BLOOD   AMPHETAMINE-ETS   NEG
BLOOD   BARBITURATE -ETS   NEG
BLOOD   BENZODIAZEPINE-ETS   NEG
BLOOD   METHADONE-ETS   NEG
BLOOD   PCP-ETS   NEG
BLOOD   CARBON MONOXIDE   NEG

Clinicopathologic Correlation: None

Millicent Schmid, Ph.D.
Chief Toxicologist
September 19, 2024

EVIDENCE COLLECTED

1. One (1) blue hospital scrubs-style shirt

2. One (1) pair hospital scrubs-style pants

3. One (1) pair black socks

4. One (1) pair black shoes

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

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

14. Thirteen (13) autopsy photographs

15. Two (2) postmortem x-rays

16. One (1) postmortem CT scan

OPINION

Time of Death: Body temperature, rigor and livor mortis, and stomach contents approximate the time of death between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on September 12, 2024.

Immediate Cause of Death: Traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage (TBSAH)

Manner of Death: Homicide

Remarks: Multiple witnesses reported seeing Mr. Shaw around 3:00 p.m. on September 14, 2024. The 911 call reporting the discovery of his body was received at 4:11 p.m. on September 12, 2024. Autopsy findings are consistent with death occurring during that time frame.

 

//Manish Agarwal, M.D.
Yoknapatawpha County Coroner's Office
September 19, 2024

 


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