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LESSONS FROM CELEBRITY DEATHS

LESSONS FROM CELEBRITY DEATHS. Dr Clive Cooke PathCentre. CELEBRITY LESSONS. Is it necessary to do anything differently?. CELEBRITY LESSONS. presume a hidden (concealed) homicide scene clothing time of death blood stains conduct of the post mortem toxicology, etc. SCENE.

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LESSONS FROM CELEBRITY DEATHS

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  1. LESSONS FROM CELEBRITY DEATHS Dr Clive Cooke PathCentre

  2. CELEBRITY LESSONS Is it necessary to do anything differently?

  3. CELEBRITY LESSONS • presume a hidden (concealed) homicide • scene • clothing • time of death • blood stains • conduct of the post mortem • toxicology, etc

  4. SCENE • scene often disturbed (cleaned) • encourage investigating authority (police) to have best scene investigators • evidence recording • Video • Photographs • evidence collection • statements (as if a homicide)

  5. BRIEFING MEETING • prior to the Post-mortem examination • Coroner • investigating officer (police) • pathologist (s) • mortuary manager

  6. Mortuary Facility • State Mortuary • not peripheral centre • Forensic pathologist • not lesser pathologist

  7. Mortuary • Security • locked, refrigerated area (no access, even to staff) • body continuity sheet (register of all body movements)

  8. Attendance at PM • Limited to essential, operations personnel • mortuary staff (selected) • forensic pathologist (and observers) • Coroner • operational investigators (police)

  9. Medical Observers • 2 forensic pathologists (including the most senior) • professor of pathology

  10. IDENTIFICATION • Avoid “Elvis lives” allegation - confirm identification objectively • dental chart (always) • fingerprints (always) • DNA • identification • paternity • body part dispute

  11. Timing of the PM • normal working hours • PM can be planned • accusation of too hasty or too tardy • delay transcription of PM report

  12. Record of the PM • photographs +++ (official) • video (prints and negatives to be secured) • whole body Radiology

  13. The PM Report • closely controlled document • homicide level and style

  14. PM Evidence • toxicology and other samples • duplicates (at least) • 1 set tested • 1 set stored

  15. Joseph Stalin poisoned by KGB? Toxicology • there is often allegation of poisoning (irrespective of the COD and MOD) • routine toxicology samples (duplicated) • extras (duplicated) • hair • nails • kidney • whole of intestine (segmentalised) • solvent samples – fat, lung, brain • swabs – nares; hands

  16. Tested Samples • letter of referral to the lab • confidentiality reaffirmed • specific testing to be done • return of unused samples to the Mortuary (retained) • cc the Coroner

  17. Body Part Retention • neuropathology recommended (likelihood of allegations of aberrant behaviour) • ? other (Make sure the Coroner is aware)

  18. Release of Body • after debrief • identification certain • NOK has been identified (multiple partners, children) • NOK aware of body part retention • evidence collected – suitable and stored • formal authorisation of release

  19. Accusations • expect accusations of • bias • incompetence • cover - up • conspiracy • racism

  20. Outside Interests • attempted interference whilst the case is hot • media • authorities • senior police • ombudsman • politicians • individuals • further inquiries (might last for decades) • commissions of inquiry • amnesty • books

  21. Avoiding Stress • stay above public hysteria (media; politicians; Coroner and mortuary staff; police; public – threatening calls and e mails; pathologists; doctors, etc) • don’t neglect (seek comfort in) normal business • be aware of high rate of problems for the investigators • burn – out • divorce • suicide • dismissal

  22. Other Suggestions • don’t include the case in publicpresentations(Nelson Rockefeller – Dr M Baden) • don’t falsify information (Tennessee Williams, 1983 – Dr E Gross sent toxicology samples under another name) • don’t give press statements (remember – it is because you are socially inept that you have become a forensic pathologist) • don’t be careless (even if you have battled bureaucracy for years, are under resourced, with little support – this is not the time to make a statement)

  23. MARILYN MONROE • body found face down on her bed inbedroom,room secure(by maid/nurse) • Dr Greenson attended (body stiff with rigor mortis – “5 minutes to straighten her out”) • police not called for 2 hours

  24. MARILYN MONROE • problems with the scene examination : • associated Press journalist impersonated Coroner’s officer and gained access • no drinking glass or water noted • police report said 15 medicine containers on bedside table – only 8 apparently sent to tox lab (bedroom cleaned the following day and containers destroyed) • delay in police call • interference with body

  25. MARILYN MONROE • problems with the mortuary : • 2 photographers gained access, with whisky, and photographed the body before post-mortem examination

  26. MARILYN MONROE • Deputy Medical Examiner(Dr Tom Noguchi) • no injection sites (surface of body examined with magnifying glass, including beneath the tongue and vagina) • no tablet residue in stomach, or staining • small bruise top of left buttock

  27. MARILYN MONROE • toxicology : • blood : Chloral hydrate = 8mg% • liver : Pentobarbital (Nembutal) = 13mg%

  28. MARILYN MONROE • DME advised Coroner on 10 August • COD = “Acute barbiturate poisoning due to ingestion of overdose” • MOD = suicide (“probable” handwritten addition) • Coroner issued finding 1 week later

  29. MARILYN MONROE • problems with Toxicology : • not all intestine contents submitted (other than stomach) • no analysis other than blood and liver • no confirmation of medication types (8/15 containers) • samples destroyed within a few weeks

  30. MARILYN MONROE • alternative theories : • accidental overingestion • homicide • injection • enema FBI - to protect Kennedy’s Mobsters – linked to Frank Sinatra (alleged lover)

  31. MARILYN MONROE - LESSONS • security - scene, mortuary and information • scene – everything documented andretained (treated as a “crime” scene) • post-mortem examination – retain too much • toxicology

  32. MARILYN MONROE Born : Norma Jeane Mortenson 1 June 1926 (baptised Norma Jean Baker) Died : Night of 4/5 August 1962(age 36) Childhood : foster care and orphanage

  33. MARILYN MONROE • Married 3 times • 1942-46 : Jim Dougherty (she had just turned 16) • 1954-54 : Joe DiMaggio (baseball star – just retired)) • 1956-61 : Arthur Miller (playwright) • 1944 : Army promotions photo shoot led to photo model career • 1946 : contract with 20th Century Fox – “Marilyn” from fellow actress and “Monroe” from mother’s family name • 1950 : “The Asphalt Jungle” • 29 movies

  34. MARILYN MONROE • 1950’s : increasing alcohol and prescription drug dependence • Demerol (Morphine) • Barbiturates – Nembutal; Amytal; Sodium-Pentothal • Chloral hydrate and occasional use of Mandrax and LSD • Required medical treatment for overdoses • 1961 : physical ailments included • Cholecystitis (cholecystectomy) • Menorrhagia • ? Irritable bowel syndrome

  35. MARILYN MONROE • 1960 : Dr Greenson –psychiatrist to the stars • 1961 : ? Relationships with JFK and Bobby(President and Attorney-General) • Evening of 4 August 1962 – several phone calls to friends – seemed very depressed; worried because had received threatening calls saying to leave Bobby Kennedy alone

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