Simulated Report of Autopsy

Case: 2014-0072

Name: Canon, Gypsy Clementine

Date: March 30, 2014

Time: 1300

Manner of Death: Homicide

Submitted by: Dr. Seymore B. Odies

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION - SUMMARY
The body is presented in a white body bag. At the time of examination, the body is clothed in a green summer dress, white sweater, white open toed shoes.

The body is that of a normally developed, well nourished Caucasian female measuring 66 inches from crown to sole. The body weighs 130 pounds. Subject is approximately 28 – 32 years old. She has auburn hair and green eyes. The body is cold to the touch, unembalmed with evidence of full rigor. The body has unblanching livor mortise which on the posterior of the thighs, anterior lower abdomen, and the left side of her face. There are pale portions where the capillaries were compressed in the thighs and the left side of the face.

The scalp is covered by long (20”) of auburn hair. The body hair is female and average. The skull is symmetric with no evidence of trauma. The eyes are open and the irises are green. Pupils are symmetrically dilated. The teeth are natural and well maintained. The anterior chest is of normal contour and is intact with the exception of an incised wound 1.5 inches long on the left side of the chest 20 inches below the top of the head and 4” from the back of the body. It is horizontally oriented with both edges of the wound tapered. The breasts are consistent with those of a mature female and contain no palpable masses. There is a picture-type tattoo of a winged dragon on the right side of the chest above the breast. The abdomen is flat and the pelvis is intact. The back is symmetrical and intact. The upper and lower extremities are symmetrical, normally developed and intact. The hands and nails are clean and evidence no injury.
There are no deformities, old surgical scars or amputations.

CLOTHING: The clothing was examined before and after removal. The dress and sweater were heavily bloodstained. There was a 2” cut through the left side of the dress in the upper left quadrant of the chest area.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION - SUMMARY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM:The brain weighs 1,152 grams and is within normal limits.
SKELETAL SYSTEM:No fractures or other abnormalities.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM--THROAT STRUCTURES: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 mucosa of the epiglottis, glottis, piriform sinuses, trachea and major bronchi are anatomic. No injuries are seen and there are no mucosal lesions. The lungs weigh: right, 340 grams; left 350 grams. The lungs are unremarkable.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM:The heart weighs 242 grams, and has a normal size and configuration. No evidence of atherosclerosis is present.The aorta and its branches are anatomic; the perforating stab wound injury previously described. The portal and caval veins and the major branches are anatomic.

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. There was no food found in the stomach. The mucosa of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and rectum are intact.

URINARY SYSTEM:The kidneys weigh: left, 100 grams; right, 102 grams. The kidneys are anatomic in size, shape and location and are without lesions.
DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES – STAB WOUND – SUMMARY

The anterior chest is of normal contour and is intact with the exception of an incised wound 1.5 inches long on the left side of the chest 20 inches below the top of the head and 4” from the back of the body. It is horizontally oriented with both edges of the wound tapered. Subsequent autopsy shows that the wound is through the skin, the subcutaneous tissue, and the intercostal musculature and it penetrates into the pleural cavity through the 8th right intercostal space without striking any ribs. It passes through the pleura leaving a 1/2 inch pleural cut posteriorly and anteriorly. No other terminating point is evident. The total depth of penetration is 3.25 inches.

OPINION: This is a fatal stab wound associated with the perforation of the heart.
PRELIMINARY TOXICOLOGICAL RESULTS:
BLOOD - ETHANOL - NEG
BLOOD - CANNABINOIDS-ETS - INC
BLOOD - COCAINE-ETS - INC
BLOOD - OPIATES-ETS - INC
BLOOD - AMPHETAMINE-ETS - INC
BLOOD - BARBITURATE -ETS - INC
BLOOD - BENZODIAZEPINE-ETS - INC
BLOOD - METHADONE-ETS - INC
BLOOD - PCP-ETS - INC
BLOOD - CARBON MONOXIDE - NEG
Urine Drugs: Initial test results inconclusive. Further tests pending.
EVIDENCE COLLECTED
1. Samples of Blood (type O+), Urine, Bile, and Tissue (heart, lung, brain, kidney, liver, spleen).
2. Twelve autopsy photographs.
3. Three postmortem x-rays.
Clothing transferred to ABC Lab for further analysis.
TIME OF DEATH:Body temperature, rigor and livor mortis, stomach contents and witness statements approximate the time of death between 9:00 p.m. March 28th and 1:00 a.m. on March 29th, 2014.
CAUSE OF DEATH:Sharp force trauma to heart.
MANNER OF DEATH:Homicide