DtxoN v. PnavtotNtmt
Exhibit 35
COUNTY OF DARROW OFFICE OF THE CORONER
CERTIFICATE OF DEATH
CERTIFICATE NIJMBER
STATE OF NITA
USE BLACK tNK ONLY
CERTIFICAT!ON
l, AbJg-Areg, Clerk of the office of the Coroner of Darrow County, state of Nita, do hereby certify that I
am in charge of the records of this office, and thatthe above Death Certificate is a correct and accurate
copy of the original on file in this Office.
Date:!!lplJ&!
MIDDLE
j
JOHN
R5T
DTXON
NAN4 OF
M 999-32-678 5lt 50 50
BIRTH
NONE
ALSO
09:45
(24 hours)
DATE OF
t1.lt 2
ttt,qnttal stntus
MARRIED
time
SERVTO tt'l U.S,
Y UN NITA
CAUCASIAN NO
IN
10 LAW
OR KIND
JD JUDGE
s000 RIDGE ROAD YEARS
NITA 55
NITA CITY DARROW
CITY
WI DOW o F D E CEAS E D ( 1. co RON E R, 2
N BYI
MARY DIXON L ALEX SHARP
sPo USE AND PARENT I NFORMATION
MARTIN
NAME
MARY L.
OF
DIXON
LAST
BIRTH
HOWARD W NITA
FIRST
DIXON
NAME R_
NITA
STATE BIRTH IllIDDLE
PATRICIA D
BRADFORD
MOTH
OF DEATH IN
ADDRESS AT LOCATION
DARROW 5OOO RIDGE ROAD NITA CITY NITA
PLACE OF
RESIDENCE
OF DEATH I
NATURAL CAUSES ACCIDENT SUICIDE HOMICIDE
THE DEATH CAUSED BY: CAUSE OF DEATH
GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD
DATE
L t 2 DARROW COUNTY MORGUE
WAs AN t ocATtoN
YES
SELF-INFLICTED, ACCIDENTAL GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HEAD
]NER'S CONCLUSION OF CAUSE OF DEATH
NOVEMBER T2,YR-z
DATE
E. E, SHARPE
OF EXAMI NER
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
Clerk, Office of the Coroner
129
t', {' ",*o
DATE AND TIME OF EXAMINATION:
PLACE OF EXAMINATION:
Dtxov v. PnovtotNtmt
Exhibit 36
DARROW COUNTY
OFFICE OF THE MTPICET EXAMINER
NITA CITY, NITA 99990
AUTOPSY RE,PORT
DIXON, JOHN J.
AUTOPSY PERFORMED BY:
12 November YR-2 at 3:00 P'm'
Darrow CountY Morgue
Nita city, Nita
E. S. Celli, MD
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
The body is that of a well-developed and nourished white man whose appearance is consistent
with his listed age of fifty years. The length is seventy-two inches and estimated weight is 200
pounds. The body is well prlservea and has not been embalmed. Rigidity is fuliy developed in the
jaw and extremities, and lividity is dorsal. The body is cool to the touch.
The face and scalp are the site of the injuries to be described. The scalp is covered with mediumlength, gray and gray-brown hair. The external ears are normally formed and located. The right iris
is brown, cornea dull, and conjunctivae unremarkable. The left eye is destroyed. The nose is intact,
and blood is present in the nares. The lips and tongue are intact, and the teeth are natural and in good
condition. Blood is present in the mouth. There is sooting in the area of the wound. Under the sooting,
powder is imbedded in the skin.
The neck is symmetrical and trachea in the midline. The chest is symmetrical and normally
formed. The abdomen is slightly protuberant and soft, The extemal genitalia are uncircumcised adult
male. The back is straight and symmetrical.
The arms are symmetrical and normally formed. The nail beds are cyanotic. The fingernails
are neatly trimmed and clean. On the palm and flexor aspects of the flngers of the left hand there
is a small amount of diffuse, black soiling, which may represent gunpowder fouling. The legs are
normally formed. No edema is present.
No identiffing marks or surgical scars are noted. No needle punctures or tracks are identifled.
National lnstitute for Trial Advocacy 131
C,qst Fttr
BODY cAVrrrES: There is no abnormal fluid in the cavities, and the serosar surfaces are smooth and ,-#:::ff; fr:fl'ii:,;#ifff,il,;i$*::;.,*,* #.*u.ruor. and rhe r.uu., orthe diaphragm
cARDrovAscuLAR SYSTEM: The heart has its notmal shape, and size and the pericardium is smooth and glistening- The coronary urt"ries arise and a.. ii.rriurr.a ,, n. ,rrar manner with right dominance' and they show slight utri"-r"r"rotic plaquer, *rri.r, do not cause signiflcant stenosis. The endocardium is smoo-th *q g.l";;irt, *, ttre caraiac;i;;, are unremarkabre. The myocardium is reddish-brown and firm and 'ho*, no"fo.rl lesions. ih";;, follows it, ,rJ rourse, and its intima [,11:j|l1f,'jl:t#:H?itr:ti" pi"q,i,s rh" ;.isj,J"or,r,.,,"j";;;; and greatvessels or
RESPTRAT,RY svsrf\tt The larynx , trachea,and bronchi contain a smail amount of blood. Their mucosa is unremarkable' The l-ungs have flr"i, *"rrr shape, il lJ;;i;n and the preura is
EVIDENCE OF INJURY
Shotgun Wound
ENTRANCE WOUND: A shotgun entrance wound is present over the left eye and the nasion. This
is at the inferio-medial aspect of the lacerated wound to be described below and is at a point four and
one-half inches below the top of the head and one inch to the left of the midline. There is a margin
of dense fouling and burning, which measures one fourth of an inch in width over the inferior and
rnedial aspects of the wound. An elliptical area of less dense fouling extends from the medial aspect
of the left orbit to the left ear and from the zygoma to the left frontal region. Relative to the entrance
wound, this measures two inches in width at the twelve o'clock position, four inches at the three
o'clock position, one and one-half inches at the six o'clock position, and one-half inch at the nine
o'clock position.
PATH OF MISSILES: The missiles passed through the orbit, destroying the eye. They then passed
through the orbital roof and continued through the left frontal lobe of the brain, pulpifizing it. The
missiles also passed along and through the left frontal bone of the skull, which is comminuted.
EXIT WOUND: The bulk of the missiles exited through a gaping,lacerated wound that measures
flve by two inches and extends from the left orbit to the left frontoparietal region, with its long axis
oriented from anterio-inferior to posterio-superior at an angle of approximut.ty forry-five delrees.
This wound is in continuity with the entrance wound.
RECOVERY oF MISSTLES: Several lead shotgun pellets and a felt wad are recovered in the pulpified brain tissue.
below
couRSE oF woul{D: Relative to the erect body the missiles passed from front to back, from upward, and from right to left.
The description of these injuries will not be repeated under the internal examination.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION
132
National lnstitute for Trial Advocacy
DtxoN v. PBoworNnet
smooth and glistening. They retain their shape on removal and are slightly firm and subcrepitant to
palpitation. The cut surfaces are moist and exude a small amount of bloody, foamy fluid on digital
pressure. There is no enlargement or consolidation of the airspaces. The pulmonary arteries are
normally disposed and patent.
URINARY SYSTEM: The kidneys have their normal shape and size. Their capsules strip with ease,
revealing smooth external surfaces. Cut surfaces show the usual corticomedullary architecture. The
pelves and ureters are unremarkable. The bladder is empty. Its mucosa is intact.
INTERNAL GENITALIA: The prostate and testes are unremarkable.
LYMPHORETICULAR SYSTEM: The spleen is ofusual size, and its capsule is intact. Cut surfaces
show the usual features. The thymus is involuted. The lymph nodes are unremarkable.
GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM: The esophagus is unremarkable. The stomach contains an
estimated 50 ml of dark brown fluid. Its mucosa is intact and continuous with an uffemarkable
duodenum. The small and large intestines are unremarkable. The appendix is present.
HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM: The liver has its usual size and shape. The capsule is intact, and the
cut surfaces show the usual lobular architecture. The gall bladder contains approximately 30 ml of
bile, and its mucosa is unremarkable. The bile ducts are normally disposed.
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: The pituitary thyroid, adrenals, and pancreas are unremarkable.
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: No fractures are identified. The bone marrow, where visualized,
is unremarkable. The skeletal muscle has its usual color and texture.
NECK ORGANS: There is no hemorrhage in the soft tissues. The cartilaginous and bony structures
are intact.
HEAD: The scalp, skull, and brain are the site of the previously described injuries. Where preserved,
the leptomeninges are glistening and transparent, and the gyri have their usual configuration. The
vessels at the base of the brain are normally disposed and show no atherosclerosis. Except for the
shotgun wound, the cut surfaces show no abnormalities. Removal of the dura from the base of
the skull shows only the previously described injuries.
PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS
Shotgun wound to head.
1. Close contact entrance wound in left eye.
2' Pulpifaction of left frontal lobe of brain and comminution of left orbital roof and left rontal Done.
3. Exit wound in left frontal region.
4. Missiles recovered in brain.
5' Course of wound: front to back, below upward, and right to left (see attached diagram).
National lnstitute for Trial Advocacy
133
Casr Fur
OPINION
The decedent was found dead in his home. Autopsy showed the cause of death to be a close contact
shotgun wound of the head. Based on the nature of the wound, the findings at the scene, and the
background history of the decedent, the manner of death is considered accidental.
€meru S. Celli
E. S. Celli, MD
Medical Examiner, Darrow County
134 National lnstitute for Trial Advocacv