Day 14

2/18/10

Case 1

60 YO WM
Nat. vs. accidental
Homeless
Reported Hx of ethanol abuse
Hx unspecified heart valve problem (untreated)
Recent “brain infection”
Found in basement of vacant building.
Poss. hypothermia
Cod unknown, probable natural

Case 2

Out of county
23 YO WM
MVA
Deceased worked on a garbage truck crew, reportedly felt ill all morning, had vomited.
Deceased left truck, apparently fainted out of sight, driver pulled forward, heard “crushing sound” under L front tire.
Deceased was still breathing when EMS arrived at scene, but died very shortly afterwards.
Ecchymosis on upper chest
Lungs were bloody, crushed.
COD massive crush injuries to the head.

Case 3

OOC
56 YO WM
Poss. OD
Hospital pt (BIBA)
Hx cocaine/marijuana use, multiple myocardial infarctions
Found unresponsive on bathroom floor during party at own house.
Was witnessed flushing lg. amt of cocaine down toilet.
Lg. amt emesis all over bathroom
Died at ED
COD MI

Case 4

Processed: murder/suicide

There were almost no signs of injury of the body of garbage-truck guy. His right earlobe had been slightly torn from the head, and there was very faint bruising on the upper chest. Blood ran from his ears and nose, but washed easily away, though from the ears, the flow renewed when the clotted blood was cleaned from them. Apparently, he had still been breathing when EMS arrived on the scene, and when we opened his up, this seemed inconceivable. The lungs were pulp, crushed and dripping and red.

The head bore no signs at all of injury, though fx were palpable under the scalp. When Greg cut, shattered pieces of bone fell from the brain, which was, remarkably, in one piece. We did not need a saw to remove the skullcap, which had been crushed into multiple pieces for us, easily sliding from beneath the scalp or popped off over the brain.