-03/10/2011 19:18 5857758722 WERNER SPITZ MD PAGE 02
WERNER U. SPITZ, M.D.
Forensic Pathology and Toxicology
23001 Greater Mack
St. Clai r Shores, Michigan 48080
- Phone: (586) 776~2060 • Fax: (586) 77S..a722
E-mail:
Diane L. Lucke, B.S.
Administrative AssistantiOffW§ Manager
March 10, 2011
Jose Baez, Esq.
The Baez Law Firm
625 E. Colonial Dr ive
Orlando, FL 32603
Re: Caylee Anthony, deceased
People v Casey Anthony
Our Fi le No; 5908
Dear Mr. Baez:
As you are aware, I per formed a second autopsy on the remains of Caylee Anthony. Said
autopsy was per iormed at the Rober t Bryant Funeral and Cremation Chapel, in Orlando, on
December 23/24, 2006.
The salient points in thIS postmor tem examination were:
The body was that of a previously autopsied, Skeletonized remains, compat ible wi th the age of 3
years. The remains were complete or almost complete, dry, brownish dIscolored. The skull was
eggshell thickness Without evidence of injury, pathological changes or deformity_
The skull had not been opened, at the first autopsy, in accordance with normal protocols as
when dealing with skeletal remains. Since the skull had not been previously opened, this
indicates that the inter ior of the skull had not been previously examined. A cake of dark brown
residue was adherent to the lef t side of the skull, behind the petrous portion of the left temporal
bone, spread over an approximately two inch diameter area. The location of the residue
indicates that the lef t side of the sku" was down during most by far of the decomposition
process, causing the sediment to precipitate to that area.
I read with interest, in the report of the first autopsy, that saline int roduced into the interior of the
skull (blind washing) was conSidered an appropriate and comprehensive method of examination.
Review of the repor t of autopsy per formed by the Chief Medical Examiner of District Nine,
Orlando, Florida and photos all indicate that duct tape was adherent to the hai r and not the
mandible, therefore i f the skull was once lying on its left side, as clearly eVidenced by the
location of the sediment. it is highly unlikely that both the skull and the mandible, which would
have been disarticulated during decomposi t ion, would roll back to an almost perfect anatomical
position.
Jose Baez, Esq.
Re: Caylee Anthony, deceased
March 10,2011
Page two
Because of the above ment ioned findings, this calls into quest ion the statement made by Dr.
Garavaglia that ItAlthough there Is no trauma evident on the skeleton, there is duct tape over the
lower faoial region still attached to head hair. This duct tape was clearly placed prior to
decomposition, keeping the mandible in place." This statement is flawed for the following
reasons:
a The evidence found at 2nd au10psy as descr ibed above.
b The DNA results of the duct tape yielded no DNA f rom the deceased.
c The lack of entomological eVidence found on the duct tape is also inconsistent with the
duct tape being placed over any orifice that would have at tached to the duct tape during
decomposi t ion (skin would be expected to adhere to duct tape).
The evidence discussed in a, b, and c seriously call into quest ion the statement "clearly
placed pr ior to decomposi t ion, keeping the mandible in place."
The remainder of the skeleton showed no injuries, pathological changes or deformities, with the
exception of evidence of postmor tem mutilation, I.e., predation by animals.
The bones revealed no odor of postmor tem decomposi t ion and were completely devoid of soft
tissues, adipocere or any remnants of any type of tape or glue residue.
There is no evidence of antemor tem t rauma to the remainS and toxicological examinat ions were
negative for drugs. Therefore the cause of death is undetermined.
The manner of death is also undetermined because there is no scientific information available
that the death was at the hands of another.
My opinions are based on my education, training and exper ience and are rendered to a
reasonable degree Of medical certainty.
I reserve the right to amend my repor t should additional per t inent informat ion become available.
I trust this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely yo~,
Werner U. Spitz, M.D.
WUS:dl l
Dk:ba~zOS1 011 cor5908
WERNER U. SPITZ, M.D.
Forensic Pathology and Toxicology
23001 Greater Mack
St. Clai r Shores, Michigan 48080
- Phone: (586) 776~2060 • Fax: (586) 77S..a722
E-mail:
Diane L. Lucke, B.S.
Administrative AssistantiOffW§ Manager
March 10, 2011
Jose Baez, Esq.
The Baez Law Firm
625 E. Colonial Dr ive
Orlando, FL 32603
Re: Caylee Anthony, deceased
People v Casey Anthony
Our Fi le No; 5908
Dear Mr. Baez:
As you are aware, I per formed a second autopsy on the remains of Caylee Anthony. Said
autopsy was per iormed at the Rober t Bryant Funeral and Cremation Chapel, in Orlando, on
December 23/24, 2006.
The salient points in thIS postmor tem examination were:
The body was that of a previously autopsied, Skeletonized remains, compat ible wi th the age of 3
years. The remains were complete or almost complete, dry, brownish dIscolored. The skull was
eggshell thickness Without evidence of injury, pathological changes or deformity_
The skull had not been opened, at the first autopsy, in accordance with normal protocols as
when dealing with skeletal remains. Since the skull had not been previously opened, this
indicates that the inter ior of the skull had not been previously examined. A cake of dark brown
residue was adherent to the lef t side of the skull, behind the petrous portion of the left temporal
bone, spread over an approximately two inch diameter area. The location of the residue
indicates that the lef t side of the sku" was down during most by far of the decomposition
process, causing the sediment to precipitate to that area.
I read with interest, in the report of the first autopsy, that saline int roduced into the interior of the
skull (blind washing) was conSidered an appropriate and comprehensive method of examination.
Review of the repor t of autopsy per formed by the Chief Medical Examiner of District Nine,
Orlando, Florida and photos all indicate that duct tape was adherent to the hai r and not the
mandible, therefore i f the skull was once lying on its left side, as clearly eVidenced by the
location of the sediment. it is highly unlikely that both the skull and the mandible, which would
have been disarticulated during decomposi t ion, would roll back to an almost perfect anatomical
position.
Jose Baez, Esq.
Re: Caylee Anthony, deceased
March 10,2011
Page two
Because of the above ment ioned findings, this calls into quest ion the statement made by Dr.
Garavaglia that ItAlthough there Is no trauma evident on the skeleton, there is duct tape over the
lower faoial region still attached to head hair. This duct tape was clearly placed prior to
decomposition, keeping the mandible in place." This statement is flawed for the following
reasons:
a The evidence found at 2nd au10psy as descr ibed above.
b The DNA results of the duct tape yielded no DNA f rom the deceased.
c The lack of entomological eVidence found on the duct tape is also inconsistent with the
duct tape being placed over any orifice that would have at tached to the duct tape during
decomposi t ion (skin would be expected to adhere to duct tape).
The evidence discussed in a, b, and c seriously call into quest ion the statement "clearly
placed pr ior to decomposi t ion, keeping the mandible in place."
The remainder of the skeleton showed no injuries, pathological changes or deformities, with the
exception of evidence of postmor tem mutilation, I.e., predation by animals.
The bones revealed no odor of postmor tem decomposi t ion and were completely devoid of soft
tissues, adipocere or any remnants of any type of tape or glue residue.
There is no evidence of antemor tem t rauma to the remainS and toxicological examinat ions were
negative for drugs. Therefore the cause of death is undetermined.
The manner of death is also undetermined because there is no scientific information available
that the death was at the hands of another.
My opinions are based on my education, training and exper ience and are rendered to a
reasonable degree Of medical certainty.
I reserve the right to amend my repor t should additional per t inent informat ion become available.
I trust this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely yo~,
Werner U. Spitz, M.D.
WUS:dl l
Dk:ba~zOS1 011 cor5908
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