Coroner's report

Office of the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner

DATE and HOUR AUTOPSY PERFORMED:
01/29/2001, 8:00 a.m. by

Jennifer Johnson, M.D.
555 Jackson Avenue
Oxford, MS 38655
662-234-XXXX (FAX 662-234-XXXX)

Assistant:

Manish Agarwal, M.D.

Full Autopsy Performed

SUMMARY PRELIMINARY REPORT OF AUTOPSY

Name:
 HAMMOND, Melissa Dale

Coroner's Case #:
 2001-014

Date of Birth:
 07/18/1975

Age:
 25

Race:
 White

Sex:
 Female

Date of Death:
 01/26/2001

Body Identified by:
 Jonah Dale, father

Case #
 000524-27A-2001

Investigative Agency:
 Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department

EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT

 N/A

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

The autopsy is begun at 8:00 A.M. on January 29, 2001. The body is presented in a black body bag. At the time of examination, the body is clothed in a woven blue cotton. nightgown and matching robe, no shoes.

The body is that of a normally developed, well nourished Caucasian female measuring 62 inches in length, weighing 117 pounds, and appearing generally consistent with the stated age of twenty-five years. The body is cold and unembalmed with pronounced rigor and posterior fixed lividity.

The scalp is covered by long, 14" full, straight, brown hair. The body hair is female and average. The skull is symmetric and intact. The eyes are closed and the irises are brown. The teeth are natural and well maintained.

The anterior chest is of normal contour and is intact. The breasts are female and contain no palpable masses. The abdomen is slightly protuberant and the pelvis is intact. The external genitalia are female and unremarkable.

The back is symmetrical and intact. The upper and lower extremities are symmetric, normally developed and intact.

There are no residual scars, markings or tattoos.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION – SUMMARY

All organs are within normal limits. No underlying pathological disease conditions or congenital anomalies were observed. Examination of the pelvic area indicates the subject had given birth to at least one full term child. Subject was not pregnant at the time of death.

No evidence of sexual intercourse, forced or consenual, is noted.

DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES - SUMMARY

(1) A lateral contusion measuring 3/16" in width was evident around the neck superior of the hyoid and traversing C4 at a 10 degree angle ascending anterior to posterior. There is a ligature crossover pattern at C4, suggestive of a rearward ligature strangulation.

Opinion: This is a fatal injury.

(2) Abrasions and contusions are noted on the hands and nails. Three fingernails on the right hand and two fingernails on the left hand are broken off at the fingertips.

Opinion: These are non-fatal antemortem and perimortem injuries consistent with defensive wounds.

TOXICOLOGIC STUDIES

Blood Ethanol: .02

Urine Drugs: None

Clinicopathologic Correlation: None

OPINION

Time of Death: Rigor and livor mortis in addition to body temperature indicate a time of death of between approximately 16:00 and 18:00 on 1/26/2001.

Cause of Death: Asphyxiation resulting from ligature strangulation

Manner of Death: Homicide

//Jennifer Johnson, M.D.
Yoknapatawpha County Coroner
February 6, 2001