Autopsy of MacKenzie Dawn Sullivan (MacKenzie Dawn Butts)
Age: 2
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: 8:00 am

AUTOPSY REPORT

ORGAN WEIGHTS

Brain 1155g
Heart 65g
Liver 450g
R Lung 130g
L Lung 100g
Spleen 40g
R Kidney 35g
L Kidney 40g
Thymus 15g

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

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

Photographs, fingerprints, and palm prints are taken. The hands are not received bagged.

When first viewed, the body is nude. Accompanying the body are a printed pair of white panties, a printed white knit top and two white sheets with pale blood stains. In the right earlobe is a yellow metal pierced earring set with a clear yellow stone. The earring is left on the body.

The body is that of a normally developed white female child appearing consistent with the recorded age of 2 years. The body is of average build and nutritional status, measuring 34-1/2 inches (87.6cm) in length and weighing 30 pounds (13.6 kg). There is good preservation in the absence of embalming. There is ill-defined frntal and well developed posterior blanching lividity. There is partial rigidity. The body is cool to the touch, subsequent to refrigeration.

The hairline is normal and there is long straight blond head hair measuring 13-1/2 inches in maximum length. The scalp and ears are unremarkable. Each earlobe is pierced once. The eyes are closed, have clear corneae and blue irides. the conjunctivae are mildly congested and there are sparse palpebral petechiae bilaterally. There is foam in both nares. The mouth contains injury to be described below. The frenula are intact. The teeth are natural and in good condition. The face contains inury to be described below, as do the neck and chest. The abdomen is flat. The genitalia are those of a female prepubescent child and are without evidence of trauma. The back is unremarkable.

IDENTIFYING MARKS AND SCARS - there is pink polish on the great toenails.

EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT - None is present

EVIDENCE OF INJURIES

There is a 1/16 inch and a 1/8 inch contusion on the inside of the lower lip on the left anteriorly. There is a 7/8 x 3/4 inch oval pale violaceous area on the right forehead just below the hairline. Subsequesnt internal examination reveals no subscalpular hemorrhage in this area. There are pinpoint red petechiae across both cheeks inferiorly to the level of the nares and superiorly across te eyelids to the midforehead level, and laterally to the preauricular area on the left and into the scalp and behind the ear down to the angle of the jaw on the right.

Subscalpular hemorrhage is not present. There are no skull fractures, epidural or subdural hemorrhage or visible injuries to the brain.

There is an approximately rectangular 2-3/4 x 3/4 inch area of dense red petechiae on the anterior base of the neck, extending slightly onto the supraclavicular areas. An anterior neck dissection reveals a 3/4 inch oval area of dermal hemorrhage under the right side of the mandible in the mid-mandibular area. A posterior neck dissection reveals a 3/4 inch oval of subscalpular hemorrhage over the left occiput.

There are clusters of pinpoint red petechiae on the anterior tops of both shoulders. On the right chest there is a 1/4 inch superficial abrasion.

On the chest, right elbow, and both lower extremities, there are multiple 1/4 to 1/2 light to medium brown-yellow contusions.

These injuries, having been once described, will not be repeated.


INTERNAL EXAMINATION

HEAD: See previous description

Neck; See previous description

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The pericardium, epicardium, and endocardium are smooth, glistening and unremarkable. There are no thrombi in the atria or ventricles. the foramen ovale is probe-patent. the coronary arterial system is right dominane and free of atherosclerosis. The atrial and ventricular septa are intact. The cardiac valves are unremarkable. the myocardium is dark red-brown and firm with no focal abnormalities. The aorta is of normal course and caliber, and its major branches and the great veins are normally distributed. the intimal surface of the aorta contains mild atherosclerosis.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: See previous description. The upper airway is unobstructed. The mucosa of the larynx and tracheobronchial tree is smooth and unremarkable without petechiae. The pulmonary arteries contain no emboli. The pleural surfaces are smooth and shiny. The bronchi are normally distributed and the major bronchi are unremarkable. The lungs appear hyperinflated and "stand up" on the cutting board. Sectioning of the lungs discloses a dark red-blue, congested parenchyma.

Apart from the features described above, examination of the organs and tissues which comprise the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, BODY CAVITIES, 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 gallbladder contains 6 ml of bile. The urinary bladder contains no urine. The stomach contains 40 ml of watery light tan fluid. No tablets or capsules are identified. The appendix is absentand unremarkable. The body wall fat measures up to 3/8 inch in maximal thickness.

FINDINGS:

1. History that the deceased was found face-down in 4 to 5 inches of water in a bathtub with her clothes on.

2. Pink froth throughout the upper airways and tracheobronchial tree.

3. Hyperinflated, hemorrhagic lungs

4. Left occipital subscalpular contusion

5. Dermal contusion deep to the right mandible

6. Petechiae over the face and neck

7. History that the deceased was found in her residence with her dead mother and sister, one of a triple homicide.

CONCLUSION:

It is our opinion that MacKenzie D. Sullivan, a 2 year old white female, died as a result of drowning.

MANNER OF DEATH; HOMICIDE

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

Bile:
Alcohol - negative

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

Chief Medical examiner - Jeffrey J Barnard, MD