Coroner's report - Cameron Maxwell

 

Office of the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner

DATE and HOUR AUTOPSY PERFORMED:
1/15/2014, 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:
 MAXWELL, Cameron Robert

Coroner's Case #:
 2014-008

Date of Birth:
 02/09/1994

Age:
 19

Race:
 White

Sex:
 Male

Date of Death:
 1/2/2014 - 1/4/2014

Body Identified by:
 Dental records

Case #
 000073-05A-2014

Investigative Agency:
 Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

The autopsy is begun at 8:30 a.m. on January 15, 2014. The body is presented in a black body bag. When first viewed, the deceased is clothed in blue jeans, white shirt, white athletic socks, white briefs, and black athletic shoes. Soil is visible on all items. Dark stains are visible on the back of the shirt in the neck area and dark spatter is visible on the front. Dark stains are also visible on the jeans, both socks, and both shoes.

The body is that of a well-developed, well-nourished white male measuring 69 inches in length, weighing 170 pounds, and appearing generally consistent with the stated age of 19 years. Rigor mortis is absent. Livor mortis is advanced and detectable on anterior dependent surfaces.

The scalp is covered by short, straight, dark brown hair. The eyes are retracted and opaque. No evidence of conjunctive petechial hemorrhage. The mid-facial area sustained extensive disruption as described in the injuries section. The upper and lower teeth are natural. There are two amalgam orthodontic fillings in the 3rd and 19th molars consistent with orthodontic records for Cameron Maxwell. The ears are unremarkable.

The chest is symmetrical, the abdomen is soft and distended with significant tissue discoloration. Examination of the anterior surface of the trunk shows no abnormalities or injuries. There is an appendectomy scar consistent with medical records for Cameron Maxwell.

The external genitalia are unremarkable and show no evidence of injury or trauma. The upper and lower extremities show no deformities or evidence of injury. There is an incised wound on the right palmar surface, described below. The hands and nails are dirt encrusted.

The medical record is present.

There are no  additional residual scars, markings or tattoos.

EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT

N/A

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The heart weighs 214 grams, and has a normal size and configuration. No evidence of atherosclerosis or gross ischemic changes of recent or remote origin are present.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: 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. The visceral pleura are unremarkable.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: There is extensive traumatic injury to the brain and skull, described below.

URINARY SYSTEM: The kidneys weigh: left, 112 grams; right, 110 grams. The kidneys are anatomic in size, shape and location and are without lesions. The pelvic calyceal system and ureters are unremarkable.

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

HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM: The liver weighs 1,165 grams. The liver on section is uniform and dark brown. No masses are identified. The gallbladder contains 4 cc of thick green viscid bile. The extrahepatic biliary system is unremarkable.

GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT: The mucosa and wall of the esophagus are intact and gray-pink without lesions or injuries. The gastric mucosa is intact and pink with no injury. The stomach contains 5 cc of partially digested semisolid food. The mucosa of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and rectum are intact with no injury. The pancreas, small intestine and colon are unremarkable.

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

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

  View injury
diagram

(1) Perforating shotgun wound of the head. Entrance wound at approximate midline of lower occipital lobe is located 13 cm from the top of the head to center of wound. The entrance wound measures 2.5 cm in diameter and is slightly ovoid with a 1.25 cm abrasion ring surrounding the wound and associated stretch marks on surrounding skin. Gunpowder stippling is found in a roughly circular pattern around the wound to 2.6 cm radius. No soot is evident. There is a massive comminuted fracture of the occipital bone. The projectile path is through the cranial cavity causing massive craniocerebral disruption in a back to front and upward path, and exits medially and superiorly to the eyes through the midline of the forehead. The convexity of the skull is shattered. There is a comminuted fracture of the nose and orbits. The exit wound is stellate measuring 8.5 cm by 5.1 cm. Numerous small gray metal projectiles generally consistent with birdshot are recovered from the wound.

Opinion: This is a fatal injury.

(2) An incised wound to the palmar surface of the right hand at the base of the ring finger. The wound is 3/4 inch in length and does not penetrate the subcutaneous layers.

Opinion: This is a non-fatal antemortem 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}:

BLOOD   ETHANOL   NEG
BLOOD   CANNABINOIDS-ETS   NEG
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

Ethanol: .00 gm/dl, Blood (Heart)

Ethanol: .00 gm/dl, Vitreous

Millicent Schmid, Ph.D.
Chief Toxicologist
January 23, 2014

EVIDENCE COLLECTED

1. One (1) pair men's blue jeans

2. One (1) men's t-shirt, white, long-sleeved

3. One (1) pair men's briefs, white

4. One (1) pair men's athletic socks, white

5. One (1) pair men's athletic shoes, black

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

7. Eight (8) autopsy photographs.

8. One postmortem CT scan.

9. One postmortem MRI.

Clothing, hair sample, and blood sample transferred to Crime Lab for further analysis and comparison.

OPINION

Time of Death: Autopsy findings and entomological evidence approximate the time of death between January 2, 2014 and January 4, 2014.

Immediate Cause of Death: Intermediate to close range shotgun wound to occipital area of the head with massive craniocerebral disruption.

Manner of Death: Homicide

//Manish Agarwal, M.D.
Yoknapatawpha County Coroner's Office
January 24, 2014

 


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