Coroner's report
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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 August 30, 2021. The body is presented in a black body bag. When first viewed, the deceased is clothed in a light blue short-sleeved shirt, khaki cropped cargo pants, and khaki platform wedge sandals. The hands are covered with paper bags, secured at the wrists with rubber bands. There is one pierced earring in each ear. The body is that of a well-nourished, normally developed white female measuring 66 inches and weighing 130 pounds, and appearing generally consistent with the stated age of 37 years. Preservation is good on the unembalmed body. The body is cold to the touch following refrigeration. Lividity is fixed on the left side of the body. The head hair is brunette with a maximal length of 22.5 inches. The body hair is female and average. The skull is symmetric and intact. The eyes are partially open. The nose and ears are unremarkable. The teeth are natural with some amalgam restorations. The chest is of normal contour and is intact. The breasts are female and contain no palpable masses. The abdomen is flat, and the pelvis is intact. The external genitalia is female and unremarkable, and there is no evidence of injury. The back is symmetrical and intact. The upper and lower extremities are symmetric, normally developed, and intact. Three parallel abrasions (Injuries 1-3) are present on the posterior of the left forearm. The hands are clean and evidence no injury. There are no residual scars, markings, or tattoos.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION - SUMMARY CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: The brain weighs 1,298 grams and is within normal limits. A metal projectile consistent with a 3.25-inch nail is observed penetrating the posterior of the neck and piercing the medulla oblongata (Injury 4). 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 weigh: right, 422 grams; left, 471 grams. There is a moderate amount of subpleural anthracotic pigment within all the lobes. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The heart weighs 242 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 70 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. HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM: The liver weighs 1,621 grams. The gallbladder contains 3 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, 140 grams; right, 111 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 13 cc of amber urine. FEMALE GENITAL SYSTEM: The structures are within normal limits. Examination of the pelvic area indicates the deceased had not given birth. There is evidence of sexual activity within the last 24-48 hours, but no indications that the sexual contact was forcible. The inguinal regions and buttocks are normal. Vaginal and seminal samples are removed for analysis. 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) An abrasion consistent with a scratch from a fingernail is present on the anterior left forearm, measuring approximately 1.3 inches long by .25 inches wide. Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury. (2) An abrasion consistent with a scratch from a fingernail is present on the anterior left forearm, measuring approximately 1.6 inches long by .25 inches wide. Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury. (3) An abrasion consistent with a scratch from a fingernail is present on the anterior left forearm, measuring approximately 2.2 inches long by .25 inches wide. Opinion: This is a non-fatal perimortem injury. (4) A puncture wound penetrating the posterior of the neck and piercing the medulla oblongata. Opinion: This is a fatal injury.
LABORATORY DATA Cerebrospinal fluid culture and sensitivity: Gram stain: Unremarkable Cerebrospinal fluid bacterial antigens: Hemophilus influenza B: Negative
Drug Screen Results: Urine screen {Immunoassay} was NEGATIVE. Millicent Schmid, Ph.D.
EVIDENCE COLLECTED 1. Samples of hair, blood (type O+), urine, bile, and tissue (heart, lung, brain, kidney, liver, spleen) 2. Stomach contents (approx. 70 ml) 3. Debris collected from under the fingernails of both hands 4. The nails of both hands were cut and preserved 5. Nine (9) autopsy photographs 6. Four (4) postmortem x-rays 7. Two (2) standard fingerprint cards
Clothing and Personal Effects: 1. One (1) women's short-sleeved shirt, light blue 2. One (1) pair women's cropped cargo pants, khaki 3. Two (2) women's platform wedge sandals, khaki 4. Two (2) pierced earrings Fingernail scrapings, clothing, jewelry, 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 7:00 P.M. on August 28, 2021, and 1:00 A.M. on August 29, 2021. Cause of Death: Penetration of the medulla oblongata, severing the CNS. Manner of Death: Homicide
//Douglas Hargrove, M.D. |
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