County of San Diego
GLENN N. WAGNER, D.O.
CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER
OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
5570 OVERLAND AVE., SUITE 101, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92123-1206
TEL: (858) 694-2895 FAX: (858) 495-5956
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
7/31/2012
NAME OF DECEASED (LAST, FIRST MIDDLE)
KILLGORE,
Brittany
AKA
CASE NUMBER
HIO
12-00848
Dawn
INVESTIGATOR
REPORTED BY
REPORTING AGENCY
Dana Gary
Detective Dave Nemet
San Diego Sheriff
CALL DATE AND TIME
PREVIOUS WAIVE #
ARRIVAL DATE AND TIME
RETURN DATE AND TIME
1300
04/17/2012
DATE AND TIME OF DEATH
DATE OF BIRTH
AGE
GENDER
RACE
04/17/2012
03/28/1990
22 Years
Female
White
RESIDENCE (STREET, CITY, STATE, ZIP)
COUNTY
LAST SEEN ALIVE
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
San Diego
04/13/12 1700
1410
SOCIAL SECURITY NO.
CITIZENSHIP
OCCUPATION
XXX-XX-XXXX
USA
Homemaker
PAID AUTOPSY
LOCATION OF DEATH
TYPE OF PLACE
Found, roadway (embankment)
Other
ADDRESS (STREET, CITY, STATE, ZIP)
Borel Road 9/10 mile W. of Warren Road Winchester, CA 92596
SUMMARY
The decedent was a 22 year old married but separated White female who resided in an apartment Fallbrook. On 04/17/12,
after being reported missing for three days, her body was discovered next to a rural roadway near Lake Skinner in
Riverside County.
Medical Examiner’s jurisdiction invoked according to the California Government Code 27491 and agreement with other
jurisdiction: Death due to known or suspected homicide.
LOCATION OF INCIDENT
INCIDENT PLACE TYPE
AT WORK
AT RESIDENCE
Unknown
ADDRESS (STREET, CITY, STATE, ZIP)
COUNTY
Undetermined Undetermined,
DATE AND TIME OF INCIDENT
04/--/2012
Unk
DECEDENT WAS
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
OFFICER
San Diego Sheriff
Det. Patterson
BELTED
HELMETED
Yes
REPORT #
BADGE #
12-118974
POSITION
ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
No
Yes
VEHICLE
IDENTIFIED BY
METHOD
Dana Gary
Personal Effects
FUNERAL HOME
PROPERTY
Alhiser-Comer Mortuary
Yes
No
STATE
LICENSE NUMBER
DATE AND TIME
04/17/2012 1750
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR
No
Yes
No
TYPE OF EXAM
Autopsy
NAME OF NOK OR OTHER
RELATIONSHIP
DATE NOTIFIED
NOTIFIED BY
NAME OF NOK OR OTHER
RELATIONSHIP
DATE NOTIFIED
NOTIFIED BY
Darryl and Michelle Wrest
Parents
4/17/2012
Law Informant
NAME OF NOK OR OTHER
RELATIONSHIP
DATE NOTIFIED
NOTIFIED BY
Cory Wayne Killgore
Husband
Other
Page 1
Case Number
Investigator
Date of Death
Date Today
San Diego Medical Examiner
5570 Overland Avenue, Suite#101
San Diego, CA 92123-1206
(858) 694-2895
: 12-00848
: Dana Gary
: 04/17/2012
: 07/31/2012
INVESTIGATIVE NARRATIVE
Decedent: Brittany Dawn Killgore
Antemortem Events:
I obtained the following information during personal interviews with Deputy Medical Examiner Nelson,
Riverside Sheriff Department Coroner’s Office detectives, San Diego Sheriff Homicide detectives Lebitski and
Patterson and San Diego Sheriff’s crime scene personnel at the scene: The decedent was a 22 year old married
but separated female who resided in Fallbrook but was in the process of moving out of state to her home town.
On 04/13/12, an acquaintance, Louis Perez, who had earlier in the day recruited some fellow Marine’s to help
her pack her belongings at her apartment, picked her up to take her on a Hornblower cruise in the downtown
area of San Diego. Reportedly, that was the last time she was seen alive. On 04/15/12, a missing person’s
report was filed.
On 04/17/12, San Diego Police Officers responded to a motel in the Sports Arena area of San Diego and found
a female in a motel room with self inflicted cutting injuries. Inside the room was a note stating that she had
knowledge of the decedent’s disappearance and death and indicated a location in Riverside County where her
body was left. San Diego Sheriff Detectives responded to the Lake Skinner area and after a search of the area,
her body was located in a remote field off of Borel Road.
Past Medical, Surgical, and Social History:
The decedent's medical history was insignificant.
Scene Description:
The scene was located in Riverside County at Lake Skinner Park on Borel Road, 9/10 of a mile west of Warren
Road. The body was located on the side of the road and partially covered by brush. For a more detailed
description of the scene, please refer to Deputy Medical Examiner Nelson’s autopsy report.
Body Description:
At the scene, I viewed the body of a White female as she lie supine on the side of a dirt road. For a more
complete body description, please refer to Deputy Medical Examiner Nelson’s autopsy report.
Special Requests:
San Diego Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives will attend the autopsy.
Identification:
San Diego Sheriff Detectives identified the decedent.
Tissue Donation:
Not pursued.
Antemortem Specimens:
Not applicable.
Public Administrator:
No referral necessary.
Page 2 of 3
12-00848
Other Important Factors:
None
06/19/12
Signed: _____________________________________________
Dana Gary
Medical Examiner Investigator
Approved by: ___________________________________________
Page 3 of 3
12-00848
County of San Diego
GLENN N. WAGNER, D.O.
CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER
JONATHAN R. LUCAS, M.D.
CHIEF DEPUTY MEDICAL EXAMINER
OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
5570 OVERLAND AVE., SUITE 101, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92123-1206
TEL: (858) 694-2895 FAX: (858) 495-5956
AUTOPSY REPORT
Name:
BRITTANY DAWN KILLGORE
ME#:
12-0848
Place of death:
Embankment,
Borel Road 9/10 mile West of Warren Road
Winchester, CA 92596
Age:
22 Years
Sex:
Female
Date of death:
Found,
April 17, 2012; 1410 Hours
Date of autopsy:
April 18, 2012; 0931 Hours
___________________________________________________________________________
CAUSE OF DEATH:
HOMICIDAL VIOLENCE
MANNER OF DEATH:
HOMICIDE
AUTOPSY SUMMARY:
I.
Ligature strangulation.
A.
Ligature marks of neck.
B.
Multifocal internal neck hemorrhages.
C.
Complete fracture of left side of cricoid cartilage.
D.
Palpebral conjunctival petechial hemorrhages and diffuse bulbar conjunctival
hemorrhages.
II.
Incised wounds of left wrist.
III.
Postmortem sharp force injury of left knee with toolmarks of distal femur and patella.
IV.
No pre-existing natural disease.
V.
Mild decomposition.
AUTOPSY REPORT
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BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
OPINION: According to the Investigator’s Report and scene investigation, this 22-year-old
woman had an unremarkable medical history. She had been the subject of a missing
person report, having last been known alive on 4/13/12. That day, shortly after the
decedent was picked up by an acquaintance for a casual date, her friend received a text
message, “Help”. Subsequent searches and investigations continued in the ensuing days.
On the afternoon of 4/17/12, a brush-clearing tractor driver saw the decedent’s body just
off the embankment of a rural road in Riverside County, California, and notified a nearby
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSD) Detective who searching for her in the
area. Death was confirmed without medical intervention. The San Diego County Medical
Examiner’s Office was requested by the SDSD to conduct the scene investigation and
body examination, which was approved by the Riverside County Coroner. For further
information, see Scene Note, below.
The autopsy documented ligature marks of the neck. While their appearance was
somewhat dried and altered by mild decomposition, they had a distinctive appearance from
nearby marks from insect activity. Moreover, there were internal neck hemorrhages and a
fracture of the cricoid cartilage. (The hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage were without
fracture.)
Despite changes of decomposition, palpebral conjunctival petechial
hemorrhages were faintly evident.
Other injuries included incised wounds of the left wrist; however, no major structures were
injured. In examination for injuries consistent with handcuff use, there was a small
subcutaneous hemorrhage of the posterior aspect of the left wrist, but no such injury of the
right.
On the left side of the neck and face were two small, paired, brown marks that were
suggestive of use of an electrical weapon, although there were no microscopic changes of
the skin to confirm that such a weapon was in fact applied.
The left knee had a large, but bloodless, incised wound suggestive of attempted
dismemberment. On the patella and medial condyle of the left femur were toolmarks from
the instrument used. Notably, while small maggots were in the hair and in the mouth, the
leg injury had no evidence of maggot activity, suggesting that some type of substance may
have been present and repelling insects.
She had no apparent pre-existing natural disease. Toxicological testing of peripheral blood
detected an ethanol level of 0.06%. As alcohol can be produced by fermentation occurring
in decomposition, this level may have been due entirely to postmortem changes rather
than to antemortem alcohol consumption. No common drugs of abuse or medications
(base screen) were detected.
AUTOPSY REPORT
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BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
Based on the autopsy findings and the circumstances surrounding the death, as currently
understood, the cause of death was ligature strangulation. Because this case was sealed
at the time of autopsy in order to prevent leakage of information the cause of death certified
on the death certificate was “HOMICIDAL VIOLENCE”. The manner of death is homicide.
CRAIG NELSON, M.D.
Deputy Medical Examiner
Date signed:
AUTOPSY REPORT
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BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
SCENE NOTE
I arrived with Investigator D. Gary at the roadside near 37701 Warren Rd, Winchester,
California in Riverside County on 4/17/12 at 1750 hours. Riverside County authorities
had cleared SDCME to take this scene. We met with SDSD Det. Patterson and
Riverside Sheriff’s Department Sgt. B. Smith. Preliminary investigation indicated that
the decedent was a 22-year-old woman who had been missing since 4/13/12. On that
day, she had met with a man who had recently helped her move. Shortly after meeting
with him, a friend of hers received a text message from her phone, “Help”. This
message was later followed by other messages that did not appear to have been written
by her. A search for her ensued. On 4/17/12, a woman was found with sharp force
injuries in a hotel in San Diego, having apparently attempted to commit suicide. With
her was a note stating that the decedent had been strangled, assaulted with an
electrical weapon, and stabbed or cut. Further investigation revealed that this woman
was the slave in a master-mistress-slave triangle, headed by the man suspected of
meeting with the decedent and that man’s girlfriend. They apparently shared a house
with various instruments of bondage and sadism/masochism.
At approximately 1405, a man who was driving a brush-clearing tractor by the side of
the road at the scene location spotted the decedent. A nearby detective, who had just
spoken with the man regarding the search for the decedent, responded at 1410 and
confirmed death without medical intervention.
The scene was a two-lane, paved, rural road among rolling, brushy hills with a few
widely separated houses. It was sunny, somewhat warm, and with a gentle breeze.
The decedent’s body was off of the shoulder of the road, a few feet down the
embankment and atop dried, brittle brush. Her body had been uncovered and in full sun
since the discovery 3-3/4 hours before.
I examined the body at 1822 hours. The body lay supine with the legs straight, the right
arm extended and slightly flexed at the elbow, and the left arm awkwardly under the
back. Her face was turned to the right. The body was that of a normally developed,
well-nourished, young adult female in a state of mild decomposition, with skin drying
and darkening, moderate gaseous bloating, skin slippage, and a foul odor. Rigor mortis
was mild-moderate in the knees and wrists, but not apparent in the shoulders. Despite
the decomposition, lividity, which was purple and in a posterior distribution, was still
partly blanching. The body was slightly cooler than the air temperature to my touch.
There were many small maggots on the right side of her head and in her mouth; some
of these were collected for SDSD personnel.
The body was unclad, but she had jewelry that included earrings, a necklace with a
pendant, bilateral nipple piercings, and a navel piercing. On her left wrist was a black
tattoo, “Eileen,” which was used to confirm her identification.
AUTOPSY REPORT
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BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
Injuries noted included bilateral ocular hemorrhages, a dried, abraded area on her neck,
and a sharp force injury of her left wrist. She also had a bloodless sharp force injury of
her left leg. Notably, neither her wrist nor knee wound had any maggots.
Paper evidence bags were placed on the head, hands, and feet. The body was
wrapped in a white sheet and placed in a new white body bag sealed with red tag
0107740 for transportation to the Medical Examiner’s Office. We departed the scene at
1913 hours.
AUTOPSY
IDENTIFICATION: The body is received in a body bag sealed with red tag “0107740”.
The tag is retained in the stock jar. On the outside of the bag is a blue Medical Examiner's
identification band bearing the decedent’s name and the case number. It is affixed to the
right ankle after opening the bag. Already on the right ankle is a yellow Medical Examiner’s
identification band bearing the decedent’s name and the case number. The body was
identified as that of Brittany Killgore by the circumstances, her body description, and a
tattoo on her left wrist.
WITNESSES: Assisting is Forensic Autopsy Specialist Stephen Hannum. Present are
SDSD Detective N. Hubbert, Detective B. Patterson, Criminalist C. Chang, Criminalist E.
Campbell, and Forensic Evidence Technician B. Silverthorn. In the observation room are
Deputy District Attorneys Espinoza and Wong.
WITNESSING PATHOLOGIST:
JONATHAN R. LUCAS, M.D.
Chief Deputy Medical Examiner
Date signed:
CLOTHING AND BODY COVERINGS: The body is wrapped in a white sheet. Paper
evidence bags are on the head, hands, and feet. No clothing is on the body. The following
jewelry items are present:
1.
In the left ear is a stud with a small, clear stone.
2.
In the right ear are two studs with small, clear stones, one slightly larger than the
other.
3.
On the neck is a white metal chain with a teardrop-shaped, white metal pendant
with a small, clear stone.
4.
In each nipple are white metal barbell-style piercings.
5.
In the umbilicus is a white metal piercing with two clear stones.
AUTOPSY REPORT
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BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
EVIDENCE OF MEDICAL THERAPY: None.
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
Injuries are described in a separate section below.
GENERAL: The body is that of a normally developed, well-nourished, light-complexioned
female appearing consistent with the listed age of 22 years. The length is 69-1/2 inches,
and the weight is 157 pounds as received. The body is cold and has not been embalmed.
The body is in a state of mild decomposition; there is generalized gas bloating, green skin
discoloration with marbling of the head, neck, upper torso, and arms with focal green
discoloration of the legs, some darkening and drying of the facial features, drying of the
fingers, and a foul odor. Rigidity is mild-moderate in the knees, but not appreciated
elsewhere. Lividity is pink-purple, non-blanching, and in a posterior distribution. Small
maggots are on the right side of the face and in the mouth. Fly eggs are in the hair, mostly
on the right side of the neck. Additionally, there are large irregular, superficially abraded,
red-orange areas of the torso and extremities consistent with insect activity; these are
described further under each body region, below. Fine, brown dirt is adhered to all aspects
of the body. Within the body bag are several thin, brittle, broken, dried twigs.
HEAD: The scalp is covered with wavy, dark brown hair measuring at least 12 inches at
the top of the head. On the forehead is a 4-3/4 x 3 inch, irregular, dried, brown-black
abraded area. On the right jaw line is an approximately 7-3/4 x 3 inch, irregular area of
dried, brown-black superficial abrasions with geographic borders consistent insect activity.
The ears are normally formed and without drainage. There are at least two piercings in the
right earlobe. There appear to be two piercings in the left earlobe, although only one stud
is present.
The right lateral and inferior bulbar conjunctiva has diffuse, dark, red-purple-black
hemorrhage. There is focal, red hemorrhage in the medial aspect. The remainder
(superior and superior-medial) bulbar conjunctiva is darkly stained with hemolysis. The left
lateral and inferior bulbar conjunctivae have dark, red-black hemorrhage. There is also
dark red-black hemorrhage of the superior-medial left bulbar conjunctiva. The palpebral
conjunctivae are initially difficult to examine due to gaseous bloating of the facial features.
Following resection of the brain and neck, with subsequent deflation of the bloating, the
palpebral conjunctivae are re-examined. While they have diffuse, red and purple
congestion, also visible are punctate, red hemorrhages in the bilateral lower palpebral
conjunctivae and a few petechial hemorrhages in the left upper palpebral conjunctiva. The
irides appear brown through cloudy corneas. The sclerae appear pink-stained with
hemolysis. Contact lenses are in place.
The nose is intact. Bloody purge drains from the nares. The lips are normally formed, but
AUTOPSY REPORT
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BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
markedly gas distended. Additionally, the gas-distended tongue protrudes from between
the teeth. The teeth are natural and in good condition. The buccal mucosa is diffusely
hyperemic, but no mucosal injuries are seen. The superior and inferior frenula are intact.
NECK: The neck is normally formed.
CHEST AND ABDOMEN: The chest is normally formed, symmetrical, and without
palpable masses. The breasts are gas distended, but without palpable masses and
generally symmetrical.
The abdomen is slightly protuberant and is taut with gas.
EXTERNAL GENITALIA: The external genitalia are those of an adult female. The left
labian minus protrudes 1-1/4 inch beyond the labia majora. No external genital trauma is
evident.
BACK: The back is straight and symmetrical. The anus has no external evidence of injury.
On the posterolateral aspects of the shoulders, torso, and buttocks are irregular, brownorange, discontinuous and confluent, superficially abraded areas with geographic borders
consistent with insect activity; these areas are in continuity with similar-appearing regions
of the extremities.
ARMS: The arms are normally formed. No needle punctures, track marks, or ventral wrist
scars are seen. The fingernails are neatly trimmed and have up to a 1/16 inch overhang
past the dried, shriveled fingertips. They have a small amount of brown dirt underneath.
Similar to the torso, both arms have irregular, brown-orange, discontinuous and confluent,
superficially abraded areas with geographic borders consistent with insect activity. On the
right arm, these are most notable on the lateral aspects of the bases of the 3rd - 5th fingers
and on the dorsum of the hand. On the left arm, they are most notable on the medial
aspect of the distal upper arm, the elbow, and the proximal forearm.
LEGS: The legs are normally formed and without edema or amputations. The toenails are
trimmed short and are painted with chipped, metallic red polish. The toenails appear clean.
The medial aspect of the right leg has diffuse, orange, parchment-like drying consistent
with sun exposure. The lateral aspect of the left thigh and lower leg has similar-appearing
change, but to a lesser degree; notably this aspect of the leg is covered with more dirt than
the medial aspect of the right leg. The posterolateral aspects of both legs and the
posteromedial aspect of the left knee and lower leg have multiple irregular, discontinuous
and confluent, superficially abraded, dried, yellow-orange areas consistent with insect
activity.
BODY MARKINGS (SCARS AND TATTOOS): There are abdominal striae. Otherwise, no
significant traumatic or surgical scars are seen, although may be obscured by changes of
decomposition. On the anterior aspect of the left wrist is a black tattoo, “Eileen”. No other
AUTOPSY REPORT
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BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
tattoos are seen.
EXTERNAL EVIDENCE OF INJURY
LIGATURE MARKS:
1.
On the left side of the neck, approximately 10 inches below the top of the head, is a
4-1/4 by up to 1-1/2 inch, roughly teardrop-shaped, dried, orange and brown,
superficially abraded mark. It has no pattern. The base is firm and parchment-like.
2.
On the right side of the posterior aspect of the neck is a 2-1/8 x 1/2 inch, band-like,
dried, brown abraded area. It has no pattern. It is the same color as the
surrounding insect activity, but does not have a geographic border.
SHARP FORCE INJURIES:
1.
On the anterior aspect of the right wrist are two intersecting incised wounds that
roughly form an inverted T shape. The horizontal component measures 1-7/8 inch
in length and the vertical component measures 1-1/2 inch in length. They expose
incised musculature and connective tissue, but the ulnar artery appears unaffected.
The vertical component also appears to have, at its superior end, a 1-1/2 inch,
superficial extension that does not go deeper than the epidermis. Also, at its inferior
end, it has a 1-3/8 inch, similar extension. On the medial aspect of the horizontal
portion, at its inferior border, is a 1-1/2 inch, curvilinear, superficial incision, and, at
its superior border, a 3/4 inch, superficial extension. Superior to the medial border
of the horizontal portion, separated by 1/8 inch of intact skin, is a 1 inch, superficial
incised wound.
2.
On the anteromedial aspect of the left knee is a 2-3/4 x 1 inch, gaping, fullthickness, incised wound. Notably, there are no maggots in this wound. On the
medial aspect of the left patella is a 7/16 inch cut that extends up to 5/16 inch into
the bone and measures approximately 1/16 inch in width. On the medial condyle of
the left femur is a 7/8 inch cut that extends almost 1/8 inch into the bone and
measures approximately 1/16 inch in width.
OTHER INJURIES:
1.
On the left preauricular region are three punctate, brown marks. The superiormost
measures 1/8 inch in diameter. It is separated by approximately 7/8 inch of intact
skin from the other two, which are slightly less than 1/8 inch diameter, punctate,
round marks. The superiormost mark is approximately 6 inches below the top of the
head and 1-1/4 inch anterior to the left external auditory canal. Sections of each
mark are in cassette 1.
2.
On the left side of the neck, overlying the superiormost aspect of the left
sternocleidomastoid muscle, are two 1/8 inch diameter, round, brown marks
separated by approximately 1 inch of intact skin. The anteriormost is approximately
8 inches below the top of the head. A representative section is in cassette 2.
AUTOPSY REPORT
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
On the right side of the lower back is a 5-1/4 x 3 inch area of multiple parallel,
obliquely oriented, superficial, dried, red and black abrasions.
On the lateral aspect of the left thigh is a 1/4 inch diameter, round, pink contusion.
On the proximal left shin is a 1-3/4 x 1 inch, roughly elliptical, purple and blue
contusion.
On the lateral aspect of the right lower leg is a 5/16 inch, linear, superficial, red
abrasion.
On the right knee is a 1-1/2 x 3/4 inch, roughly elliptical, pink-purple contusion.
On the left anterior axillary line is a 2-1/2 inch, bloodless, curvilinear laceration in the dried,
sun-exposed skin; this injury occurred during movement of the body at the scene.
(On the medial aspect of the left thigh is a 9-3/4 x 2-1/2 inch area of irregular,
discontinuous, mottled, pink areas that, on external examination appear to be contusions,
but on internal examination have no hemorrhage.)
INJURIES, EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL
All injuries are previously described and not further characterized below.
BODY CAVITIES: The abdominal fat layer is spongy and measures up to 4 cm in
thickness. Each pleural cavity contains 50 ml of watery, red-black, foul-smelling fluid with a
few fat droplets that float at the top. The pericardial sac contains a trace amount of watery,
red fluid, as does the peritoneal cavity. The serosal surfaces are smooth, glistening, and
without adhesions. The organs are normally located. The diaphragm is intact. The
pericardial sac, pleural cavities, and peritoneal cavities have no evidence of injury. All
organs and tissues have mild softening and discoloration due to decomposition.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The heart weighs 260 grams and is not enlarged. It has a
normal shape with a smooth, glistening epicardium with green discoloration from
decomposition. The coronary arteries have a normal origin and distribution with right
dominance. They have no atherosclerotic stenosis and are widely patent.
The myocardium is brown, soft, and uniform without focal fibrosis or hyperemia. The
ventricles are not dilated or hypertrophied. The right ventricle, left ventricle, and
interventricular septum measure 0.3 cm, 1 cm, and 1 cm, respectively.
The endocardium is intact, smooth, and glistening. The cardiac valve leaflets are of normal
number, pliable, intact, and free of vegetations. The atrial and ventricular septa are free of
defects.
The aorta follows its usual course and has minimal atherosclerotic changes. There are no
vascular anomalies or aneurysms. The vena cavae and pulmonary arteries are without
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BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
thrombus or embolus.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: The right and left lungs weigh 540 and 420 grams,
respectively, and have the usual lobation. The pleura are smooth and glistening; the lungs
have no appreciable anthracotic pigment. The lungs are well expanded and crepitant. The
parenchyma is dark red and exudes moderate amounts of fluid. The lungs have no
consolidation, hemorrhage, infarct, tumor, gross fibrosis, or enlargement of airspaces. The
bronchi contain no foreign material and have smooth, dark brown mucosa.
HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM: The liver weighs 940 grams. The intact capsule is smooth
and glistening. The parenchyma is red-brown and spongy without mass, hemorrhage,
yellow discoloration, or palpable fibrosis.
The gallbladder contains less than 5 ml of bile and no stones. Its mucosa is uniform and
the wall is not thickened.
The pancreas has a normal size, shape, and lobulated structure. The parenchyma is pinktan, soft, and uniform.
HEMOLYMPHATIC SYSTEM: The spleen weighs 170 grams. The capsule is smooth and
intact. The parenchyma is maroon, diffluent, and uniform.
There is no enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck, chest, or abdomen. The thymus
is of the appropriate size for the decedent’s age and has a purple, lobulated parenchyma.
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: The thyroid gland is not enlarged, and the lobes are symmetrical.
The parenchyma is uniform, firm, and red-brown. The thyroid gland has a small
hemorrhage, described below. (See Neck.)
The adrenal glands have the usual size and shape. The cortices are soft, thin, uniform,
and yellow-brown and there is no hemorrhage or tumor. The pituitary gland is not
enlarged.
GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM: The esophagus and gastroesophageal junction are
unremarkable. The stomach contains no collectible gastric contents and has no apparent
food, pills, or pill residue. The gastric and duodenal mucosae are intact and unremarkable
other than changes of decomposition. The small and large intestines and appendix are
unremarkable to inspection and palpation other than changes of decomposition.
GENITOURINARY SYSTEM: The right and left kidneys weigh 130 grams each, and have
a normal shape and position. The cortical surfaces are smooth. The kidneys have the
usual corticomedullary structure without tumors or cysts. The pelves and ureters are not
dilated or thickened. The bladder contains no urine. The mucosa is intact, and the bladder
AUTOPSY REPORT
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BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
wall is not hypertrophied.
The vagina, anus, rectum, and pelvic organs are resected en bloc. The uterus, tubes, and
ovaries are of expected size and have smooth serosal surfaces. The cervix is patent with a
slit-like os. The myometrium is uniform and the endometrium is brown. The sectioned
ovaries are unremarkable. Opening the anus and rectum at the 6 o’clock position reveals
hyperemia superior to the pectinate line, but no apparent injury. Opening the vagina at the
12 o’clock position identifies mucosal hyperemia, but no injury.
NECK: There is no hemorrhage deep to the ligature marks of the neck, but the tissues are
dried. However, there is a focal, 1/8 inch diameter subcutaneous hemorrhage that overlies
the anterior-superior border of the right sternocleidomastoid muscle. A poorly defined
blush of hemorrhage overlies the right horn of the thyroid cartilage and the right greater
horn of the hyoid bone, but these structures are intact. The left thyrohyoid muscle has a
1/4 inch diameter, poorly defined, purple hemorrhage. The superior border of the right
thyrohyoid muscle has a 5/16 x 1/4 inch hemorrhage. The inferior portion of the left lobe of
the thyroid gland has a 5/16 x 5/16 inch, irregular, poorly defined hemorrhage. There is
hemorrhage of the cricothyroid membrane. The left side of the cricoid cartilage, just left of
midline, is completely fractured.
The tongue has no hemorrhage. The hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage are normally formed
and without fracture. The airway is unobstructed, lined by smooth, pink-tan mucosa, and
contains no foreign material. The cervical vertebrae have no displacement, hypermobility,
or crepitus.
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: The musculoskeletal system is well developed and free
of deformity. There are no fractures of the clavicles, sternum, ribs, vertebrae, or pelvis.
The ribs are not brittle. The skeletal muscle is dark red and firm.
The skin of the back is reflected. The left trapezius has a 1-1/2 x 1 inch, irregular
hemorrhage. Overlying the tip of the left scapula is a 3 x 2-1/2 inch, irregular hemorrhage.
On the mid lower back are bilateral, irregular, red-purple hemorrhages measuring up to 1
inch within the muscle and subcutaneous fat.
Reflection of the skin of the right wrists identifies no hemorrhage or evidence of injury. In
the posterior aspect of the left wrist, subcutaneous dissection reveals a 1/2 x 1/2 inch focal
hemorrhage.
HEAD: The scalp has diffuse hyperemia (decomposition change) with no identifiable
impact sites. The calvarium and base of the skull are normally configured and have no
fractures. The dura is intact, and there is no epidural or subdural hemorrhage.
AUTOPSY REPORT
-12-
BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM:
The unfixed brain weighs 1200 grams.
The
leptomeninges are glistening and transparent without underlying hemorrhage, exudate, or
cortical contusions. The cortex and white matter have slight green discoloration and the
parenchyma is softened. The hemispheres are symmetrical and have a normal gyral
pattern. There is no flattening of the gyri, narrowing of the sulci, midline shift, or evidence
of herniation. The arteries at the base of brain have no atherosclerotic changes or
aneurysms.
Sections through the cerebral hemispheres have a uniform, intact cortical ribbon and
uniform white matter. The basal ganglia, thalami, hippocampi and other internal structures
are symmetrical and without focal change. The ventricles are not enlarged, and the linings
are smooth and glistening. Sections of the brainstem and cerebellum show an intact
structure without focal lesions.
The entire spinal cord is resected posteriorly and is without lesion.
SPECIMENS RETAINED
TOXICOLOGY: Samples of central and peripheral blood, chest fluid, and liver are retained
for toxicology. No vitreous fluid could be collected.
HISTOLOGY: Representative sections of organs and tissues are retained. Sections of the
neck and face injuries (3), heart (1), lung (1), liver (1), and kidney (1) are submitted for
histology.
PHOTOGRAPHS: Digital identification photographs, overall external body photographs,
and photographs of the eyes, injuries, rectum and vagina, reflected scalp, bone tool marks,
and internal neck structures are taken.
RADIOGRAPHS: Postmortem full body radiographs are taken.
EVIDENCE: Neck, nipple, external genital, vaginal, oral, and anal swabs are collected and
turned over to SDSD personnel. The paper evidence bags, the sheet, the body bag a tube
of chest fluid are turned over to SDSD personnel.
AUTOPSY REPORT
-13-
BRITTANY KILLGORE 12-0848
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
NECK AND FACE INJURIES (CASSETTES 1 AND 2): No changes of electrical injury are
seen.
HEART: One section is autolyzed, so there is bacterial overgrowth, gas artifact, loss of
basophilic staining, and loss of cellular detail. No inflammation or fibrosis is seen.
LUNG: One section shows normal alveoli without inflammation, though they do contain
extravasated red blood cells. Septa are congested, but thin and delicate. Larger airways
are unremarkable.
LIVER: One section has mild changes of autolysis, so there is bacterial overgrowth, gas
artifact, and partial loss of basophilic staining. Hepatocytes are unremarkable. Sinusoids
are congested with the ghosts of red blood cells. Portal areas are unremarkable.
KIDNEY: One section has mild changes of autolysis, so there is bacterial overgrowth, gas
artifact, and partial loss of basophilic staining. Glomeruli, tubules, the interstitium, and
vessels are otherwise unremarkable.
CN:JRL:lcb
D: 4/18/12 T: 4/19/12
Rev. 7/18/12 clb
County of San Diego
GLENN N. WAGNER, D.O.
CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER
JONATHAN R. LUCAS, M.D.
CHIEF DEPUTY MEDICAL EXAMINER
OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
5570 OVERLAND AVE., Ste #101, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92123-1206
TEL: (858) 694-2895 FAX: (858) 495-5956
TOXICOLOGY REPORT
Name:
Medical Examiner Number:
Date of Death:
Time of Death:
Pathologist:
Specimens Received:
Date Specimens Received:
KILLGORE, Brittany Dawn
12-00848
04/17/2012
00:00
Craig Nelson, M.D.
Chest Fluid, Liver, Peripheral Blood 1
04/19/2012
Test Name (Method of Analysis)
Specimen Tested
Alcohol Analysis (GC/FID-Headspace)
Alcohol (Ethanol)
Acetone, Methanol, Isopropanol
Peripheral Blood 1
Drugs of Abuse Screen (ELISA)
Cocaine metabolites
Amphetamines
Opiates
Benzodiazepines
Fentanyl
Cannabinoids
Peripheral Blood 1
Base Screen (GC/MS)
Peripheral Blood 1
Result
0.06 % (w/v)
Not Detected
Not Detected
Not Detected
Not Detected
Not Detected
Not Detected
Not Detected
Not Detected
End Results
Comments:
1. Specimens received showed signs of decomposition.
2. Alcohol can be formed in cases of decomposition by fermentation processes.
Approved and Signed:
07/13/2012
Iain M. McIntyre, Ph.D.
Forensic Toxicology Laboratory Manager
(All Inquiries/Correspondence)
Reviewed:
Catherine E. Hamm
FTLS
An American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) Accredited Laboratory
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