AUTOPSY REPORT 94-05135
I performed an autopsy on the body of GOLDMAN, RONALD at the DEPARTMENT OF CORONER Los Angeles, California on June 14, 1994 @1030 HOURS
From the anatomic findings and pertinent history, I ascribe the death to:
MULTIPLE SHARP FORCE INJURIES Due To Or As a Consequence of
Anatomical Summary:
1. Sharp force wound of neck, left side, with transection of left internal jugular vein.
2. Multiple stab wounds of chest, abdomen, and left thigh: Penetrating stab wounds of chest and abdomen with right hemothorax and hemoperitoneum.
3. Multiple incised wounds of scalp, face, neck, chest and left hand (defense wound).
4. Multiple abrasions upper extremities and hands (defense wounds).
SHARP FORCE INJURIES OF NECK:
1. Sharp force injury of neck, left side, transecting left internal jugular vein. This sharp force injury is complex, and appears to be a combination of a stabbing and cutting wound. It begins on the left side of the neck, at the level of the midlarynx, over the left sternocleidomastoid muscle; it is gaping, measuring 3 inches in length with smooth edges. It tapers superiorly to 1 inch in length cut skin. Dissection discloses that the wound path is through the skin, the subcutaneous tissue, and the sternocleidomastoid muscle with hemorrhage along the wound path and transection of the left internal jugular vein, with dark red-purple hemorrhage in the adjacent subcutaneous tissue and fascia. The direction of the pathway is upward and slightly front to back for a distance of approximately 4 inches where it exits, post-auricular, in a 2 inch in length gaping stab/incised wound which has undulating or wavy borders, but not serrated. Intersecting the wound at right angle superior inferior is a 2 inch in length interrupted superficial, linear incised wound involving only the skin. Also, intervening between the 2 gaping stab-incised wounds is a horizontally oriented 3-1/2 inch in length interrupted superficial, linear incised wound of the skin only.
In addition, there is a 1/2 inch long, linear-triangular in size wound of the inferior portion of the left earlobe.
The direction of the sharp force injury is upward (rostral), and slightly front to back with no significant angulation or deviation. The total length of the wound path is approximately 4 inches. However, there is a 3/4 inch in length, linear, cutting or incised wound of the top or superior aspect of the pinna of the left ear; a straight metallic probe placed through the major sharp force injury shows that the injury of the superior part of the ear can be aligned with the straight metallic rod, suggesting that the 3 injuries are related; in this instance the total length of the wound path is approximately 6 inches. Also, in the left postauricular region, transversely oriented, extending from the auricular attachment laterally to the scalp is a 1-1/8 inch in length linear superficial incised skin wound.
Opinion: This sharp force injury of the neck is fatal, associated with transection of the left internal jugular vein.
