Autopsy of Gerri Faye Butts
Age: 29
Race: white
Sex: female
Date of death : January 27, 1992
Time of death: found 8:15 am
Pronounced at 715 Walnut - Atlanta, Cass County, Texas
Date of examination: January 28, 1992
Time of examination: 8:15 am

AUTOPSY REPORT

ORGAN WEIGHTS

Brain 1220g
Heart 280g
Liver 1750g
R Lung 630g
L Lung 460g
Spleen 180g
R Kidney 150g
L Kidney 150g

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

This autopsy is performed at the request of Bette Allen, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Cass County, Texas.

The body is identified by tags. Photographs, fingerprints, and palm prints are taken. Paper bags are present on the hands when the body is received.

The body is received in a black zippered body bag, wearing a baggy, white, shortt-sleeved t-shirt with the name "MARLBORO" on the pocket; and wearing white panties. No jewelry is present.

The body is that of a normally developed white female, which appears consistent with the recorded age of 29 years. The body measures 62-1/2 inches in length (158.8cm), weighs 110 pounds (49.9kg) and appears of average build and nutritional status. The body is not embalmed and shows very early decomposition changes with green discoloration around the umbilicus and in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Posterior fixed lividity and partial rigidity are present. The body is cool to the touch, subsequent to refrigeration.

The head hair is wavy, slightly reddish-brown, and approximately 12 inches long. The body hair is average in amount and distribution for an adult female. The ears are each pierced once. The scalp, nose, and mouth are unremarkable, with the mouth ahowing natural teeth in apparent good condition. The eyes are partly open with slightly cloudy cornea; the irides are hazel with equally dilated 3mm pupils and no arcus senilis. There are narrow, horizontal drying lines across both eyes. The face shows brown freckles around both eyes. The face and neck appear congested.

The chest, abdomen and back are all unremarkable. The extremeties are symmetrical. The genitalia are those of an adult female and show no evidence of trauma.

IDENTIFYING MARKS AND SCARS

There is a 4 inch long, horizontal, old, right lower quadrant abdominal scar.

EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT - None Present

EVIDENCE OF INJURIES

HEAD TO SHOULDERS:

The front of the neck shows a "U" shaped discontinuous band of multiple small abrasions, petechial hemorrhages, and contusions. The lowest point of this band is 1-1/4 inches to the right of the anterior midline, below the thyroid cartilage, and the highest point is on the left, 1-1/2 inches higher, and just below the left ear. The left arm of the band measures 3-1/4 inches long and the right arm measures 1-1/2 inches long.

Immediately below the lowest point of hte previously described band is a small cluster of three contusions, each measuring 1/2 inch in maximum dimension. The top front of the right shoulder has an ill-defined, 2-1/2 inch aggregate cluster of ill-defined coalescing contusions and a few tiny abrasions. The top and front of the left shoulder has a 4 inch aggregate cluster of contusions.

Internal examination reveals subcutaneous hemorrhage in the mid anterior neck, hemorrhage in the right sternocleidomastoid muscle, hemorrhage in the right sternohyoid muscle, hemorrhage in the right sternothyroid muscle, hemorrhage in the right aryepiglottic soft tissue and focal hemorrhage on the posterior esophageal wall.

TRUCK AND EXTREMETIES

The back of the left elbow has a 1/2 inch maximum, superficial epidermal abrasion. The mid front of the left thigh has a 1/2 inch, mottled violet and brown contusion.

There are approximately 2 inch diameter peripheral contusions on the mid posterior surfaces of both the right and left lower lobes of the lungs.

The previous injuries, having already been described, will not be described again.

Material submitted for evidence are handwashings, clothing, tapings of multiple body parts, blood, and a sexual assault kit, including oral, anal, and vaginal swabs and smears, head hair combings and pullings, pubic hair pullings and combings, and fingernail clippings.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

Apart from the features described above, examination of the organs and tissues which comprise the HEAD, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, NECK, BODY CAVITIES, CARDIOVASCULAR, RESPIRATORY, HEPATOBILIARY, LYMPHORETICULAR, GENITOURINARY, GASTROINTESTINAL, ENDOCRINE and MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEMS reveals all to be within the usual limits of size, character and position for age, sex, and development.

In particular, it is noted that the heart shows patent coronary arteries with no atherosclerosis or thrombi. The aorta has no therosclerosis. The upper airway is unobstructed and the pulmonary arteries contain no thromboemboli. The gallbladder contains approximately 2 ml of green bile with no calculi. The urinary bladder contains approximately 100 ml of clear yellow urine. The uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries are present, with the uterus showing a thin, red-tan endometrium. The fallopian tubes have been previously ligated. The stomach contains approximately 100 ml of thick, lumpy tan material with no identifiable solid food, pills, or capsules. The appendix is absent. The fat of the abdominal wall measures up to 3/4 inch in thickness. No other significant abnormalities are noted.

FINDINGS:

1. Abrasions, contusions, and petechial hemorrhages of anterior neck.

2. Hemorrhage in the subcutaneous tissue and musculature of the right side and front of the neck.

3. Abrasions and contusions of both shoulders.

4. Contusions of posterior right and left lower lobes of the lungs

5. Small abrasions and contusions of back of left elbow and front of left thigh.

CONCLUSION:

Based upon the autopsy findings and history as available to us, it is our opinion that Gerri Faye Butts, a 29 year old white female, died as the result of strangulation.

MANNER OF DEATH; HOMICIDE

TOXICOLOGY:
Blood:
Alcohol - negative
A N Screen - negative
Alkaline screen - negative
Narcotics - negative

Vitreous:
Alcohol - negative

Signed by
Medical examiners
Sheila Spotswood, MD
Juan-Luis Zamora, MD
J.M.Guileyardo, MD
Charles B. Odem, MD

Chief Medical examiner - Jeffrey J Barnard, MD