Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
CB # 7580 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7580
Telephone 9199662253
REPORT OF AUTOPSY EXAMINATION
DECEDENT
Document Identifier
B200902508
Autopsy Type
ME Autopsy
Name
Jessica Sintara Lee-Morgan
Age
35 yrs
Race
Black
Sex
F
AUTHORIZATION
Authorized By
John D. Butts MD
Received From
Cumberland
ENVIRONMENT
Date of Exam
05/26/2009
Time of Exam
12:10
Autopsy Facility
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Persons Present
Mr. Clyde Gibbs, Ms. Molly Hupp,
Mr. Bill Holloman, Dr. Gaffney-Kraft, Mr. Jenkins Cumberland County Sheriff's Dept.
CERTIFICATION
Cause of Death
Incised/stab wounds
The facts stated herein are correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Digitally signed by
John D. Butts MD 09 June 2009 13:51
DIAGNOSES
Cutting injury of right cheek and chin
Stab wound of left lower neck with injury to internal jugular vein and transection
of left common carotid artery
Stab wound of right upper chest
Cutting injury, right forearm
Postmortem decomposition
IDENTIFICATION
Body Identified By
Papers/ID Tag
EXTERNAL DESCRIPTION
Length
68 inches
Weight
273 pounds
Body Condition
Decomposed
Rigor
Undetectable
Livor
Undetectable
Hair
Dark reddish-brown, curly
Eyes
Present, decomposed
Teeth
Natural
These are the remains of an overweight female received in a white body bag. She is clothed only in the pair of red lace
panties. There is yellow metal loop earring in the left ear. Ink is noted on the fingers and there is an ID tag on the left
ankle.
The body is decomposed with generalized skin slippage and scattered areas of venous marbling. The body is
malodorous. The face is somewhat swollen and there is considerable decompositional oil present.
Page 1 of 6
F200905068
09 June 2009 13:51
There is a tattoo "Jessica" on the left upper arm and on the back of the right shoulder "Big Red."
INJURIES
Wound #1:
On the right side of the cheek and chin is a transversely oriented 6 1/2" in length cut. The more anterior portion is
deeper extending through the musculature along the right side of the mandible and becoming more shallow as it sweeps
below the mandible onto the right side of the neck. The deeper portion is approximately 4" in length. A shallow cut is
noted in the mandible but it is otherwise intact. No vital structures in the neck are compromised.
Wound #2:
This is a stab wound of the base of the neck on the left. It is 10" down from the top of the head and 1/2" to the left of
midline. The wound is horizontally oriented, 1.6" in length, with a slight tail medially. Internally the wound probes
backwards and the track incises the left internal jugular vein and completely transects the common carotid before
reaching the area of the lateral processes of the cervical vertebral column. The direction of this wound is backwards.
Wound #3:
This is a stab wound of the right upper chest/breast area located 13" down from the top of the head and 5.5" to the right
of midline. The wound is slightly curved, 1.7" in length. It can be probed upwards, forwards and to the midline but does
not enter the chest cavity or strike any vital organs.
Wound #4:
This is cutting injury of the right forearm. It is 5" in length and extends from the anterior surface across the medial to
the posterior surface. The muscles are cut deeply but the underlying bones are intact.
DISPOSITION OF CLOTHING AND PERSONAL EFFECTS
The following items are released with the body
None
The following items are preserved as evidence
Panties and earring
PROCEDURES
Radiographs
None
Microbiology
None
Chemistry
None
Special Evidence Collection
Items from a sexual assault evidence collection kit including vaginal swabs and smears, oral swabs and smears, pubic
hair and scalp hair samples are collected. A tampon in place in the vagina is also collected as well as the panties and
separately packaged. These items plus a segment of femur from the left leg and the earring are turned over to Jenkins of
the Cumberland County Sheriff's Dept.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION
Body Cavities
The pleural, peritoneal and pericardial cavities are unremarkable without evidence of inflammation, exudation or
hemorrhage. The organs are discolored, softened and there is considerable rendering of fat secondary to
decompositional changes.
Page 2 of 6
F200905068
09 June 2009 13:51
Cardiovascular System
Heart Weight
200 grams
The coronary arteries are identified and are essentially devoid of atherosclerosis. The myocardium is grayish-brown and
semi-liquid consistent with decompositional change but no obvious scarring is evident. The valves are normally formed.
The aorta and its major branches save the left common carotid are intact with minimal atherosclerotic streaking. No
blood remains in the vascular system.
Respiratory System
Right Lung Weight
210 grams
Left Lung Weight
180 grams
Both lungs are normally formed. They are light with early decompositional changes. No areas of consolidation or other
abnormality are noted. The bronchi are clear as is the trachea. The pulmonary arteries are free of clot. The larynx and
epiglottis are unremarkable. The tongue is unremarkable. The hyoid bone and thyroid cartilages are intact.
Gastrointestinal System
The GI tract is intact throughout its length. The appendix is present. The stomach contains approximately 1/2 cup of
well chewed granular materials. No recognizable food fragments or pills are noted.
Liver
Liver Weight
950 grams
The liver is brownish and semi-liquid. There is no accentuation of the lobular architecture and portions that are
relatively intact appear unremarkable. The gallbladder is absent and surgical clips are present in the bed. The
extrahepatic ducts are identified and appear unremarkable.
Spleen
Spleen Weight
Semi-liquid.
100 grams
Pancreas
Autolyzed but appears within normal limits.
Urinary
Right Kidney Weight
100 grams
Left Kidney Weight
100 grams
The cortical surfaces of both kidneys are smooth. They are markedly softened. The ureters are intact. The bladder is
empty.
Reproductive
Uterus, tubes and ovaries are present and markedly autolyzed. The uterine cavity appears slightly irregular. The
external genitalia show no obvious evidence of trauma. The vagina appears unremarkable save a tampon in place.
Endocrine
Thyroid tissue is identified and is autolyzed but appears within normal limits.
The adrenals are markedly autolyzed but present.
Neurologic
Brain Weight
960 grams
There is no obvious hemorrhage in the epidural or subdural compartments. The brain is semi-liquid and gray. No
obvious internal hemorrhaging is noted as it is removed.
Skin
Abnormalities as noted.
Immunologic System
No lymphadenopathy noted.
Musculoskeletal System
Injuries as described.
Page 3 of 6
F200905068
09 June 2009 13:51
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
Microscopic Comment
Sections are severely autolyzed.
Respiratory
Lung appears within normal limits.
Liver
No scarring or fatty change evident.
Genitourinary
Kidney appears within normal limits.
SUMMARY AND INTERPRETATION
This was a 35-year-old woman who apparently was last known to be alive in the early morning hours of the 23rd. Her
decomposed remains were found in the back of her SUV on the 25th.
Autopsy examination revealed decomposed human remains. Four sharp force injuries were identified. These include a
deep cut of the right side of the chin/face that struck no vital structures, a similar cutting injury of the right forearm, a
stab wound of the right upper chest and a stab wound of the base of the neck on the left. The latter wound incised the
left internal jugular vein and interrupted the common carotid artery. This woman, in my opinion, died as a result of
these sharp force injuries.
DIAGRAMS
1. 1. Adult (front/back)
2. 2. Head (left/right)
Page 4 of 6
F200905068
09 June 2009 13:51
Page 5 of 6
F200905068
09 June 2009 13:51
Page 6 of 6
F200905068
09 June 2009 13:51