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Warning: This page contains material of a nature which may offend some readers.
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The following is an electronic copy of the coroner's report concerning Lisa McPherson, a Scientologist whose mysterious death -- and the Church of Scientology's opposition to the continued police investigation into her death -- has caused some controversy, both on the Internet and in the community of Clearwater, Florida, the home of the Church of Scientology's spirital Mecca.
Of note is the cause of death. The Scientologists first informed McPherson's family that she had died of a fast-acting meningitis; later, they blamed a blood clot which travelled from a bruise on her leg to her lungs. Their final story was that she had died of complications from a staphylococcus infection which, they said, explained the bruises on her body. Although no staph infection is mentioned in the report, the medical examiner stated that her death was in no way related to a staph infection.
REPORT OF AUTOPSY
Name: MC PHERSON, Lisa Case # 1951474 Age: 36 yrs Race: White Sex: Female Date of Death: Dec. 5, 1995 Body Identified by: Jeff Schaffner & David Slaughter Date of Autopsy: Dec. 6, 1995 at: 11:00 hrs Authorized by: Joan E. Wood M.D., D.M.E Investigative Agency: Clearwater Police Department Agency Case # 95-29158 Manner of Death: Undetermined Immediate Cause of Death: Thrombo-embolism left pulmonary artery due to: Thrombosis of left popliteal vein due to: Bed rest and severe dehydration
FINAL ANATOMIC DIAGNOSES
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REPORT OF AUTOPSY NAME- MC PHERSON, Lisa CASE NO.-1951474 PAGE 2 greatest area measuring 2-1/2 inches and to a lesser extent over areas measuring 1/2 and 3/4 inch. Over the medial aspect of the right knee there is a reddish-brown area with sharp margins. On the medial aspect of the left lower leg there are confluent old (green-brown) hematoma with indefinite peripheral ages. The dorsal aspect of both feet contain multiple drying scaling lesions that vary from 0.3 to 1.2 cm. On section these lesions in common lack an underlying hemorrhagic base even centrally and the margins are peripheral and sharp. Sections are obtained from such areas of the right foot. An abrasion is present above the lateral aspect of the right lower leg adjacent to Achilles tendon. Parallel to this there are superficial abrasions medial to it numbering two and averaging 1/4 inch. On the medial aspect of the right lower leg there are scattered old (green-brown, with indefinite margins) hematomas that vary in greatest dimension from 0.3 to 1.0 cm. An old (yellow-green indefinite margins) 4 inch hematoma is present over the left posterior iliac crest. On the point of the right elbow posteriorly there is a healing laceration measuring 1/8 inch. Adjacent to this there is an "old" hematoma with a greatest dimension of 2-1/2 inches. Photographs are obtained of old bruises from the right flank posteriorly and from the left lower leg. Additionally bruises of the scaling-appearing lesions are present on the dorsum of the hands and feet also are submitted. TRUNCAL: At the point of the right shoulder there is a 3/4 inch drying abrasion. In the right suprailiac area there is an 6.5 cm green brown (old) hematoma. In the left lower flank there is a green brown (old) 9cm.(horizontal) by 4 cm. vertical hematoma. INTERNAL EXAMINATION: CAVITIES: Right and left pleural cavities are free of fluid and adhesions. The pericardial cavity has 2 cc of pale clear fluid. No adhesions are present. The peritoneal cavity is free of fluid or adhesions. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The 230 gram heart has a dominant right coronary artery. The coronary vessals show focal mild artherosclerosis. Specifically absent are areas of discoloration with softening and fibrosis. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; The 210 gram left lung is remarkable for showing a partially occlusive well-established thrombus which is multifocal. This is not associated with an infarct. The visceral pleura is unremarkable. The bronchial tree contains small amounts of blood-stained fluid. The parenchyma on section is dry, pink-gray and doughy. The main branch to the left pulmonary artery is occluded by well-established thrombus. The 210 gram right lung has an unremarkable visceral pleura. The opened arterial tree is free of antemortem thrombi. The bronchial tree contains moderate amounts of faintly blood-stained mucus. The tissue on section is doughy and gray-pink. Laryngeal and tracheal cartilages are intact and their mucosae is unremarkable. |
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REPORT OF AUTOPSY NAME- MC PHERSON, Lisa CASE NO.-1951474 PAGE 3 CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: The 1390 gram brain has unremarkable meninges. The vasculature of the basilar and cerebral arterial circulatory systems are unremarkable. Gyri and sulci are unremarkable. Specifically absent is opacification of the meninges at the base of the brain.Bilateral tonsilar grooving without apposition is present. The brain is fixed for sectioning at a later date. With the dura removed, the base of the skull is free of fractures. Specifically absent are subscapular hematoma. URINARY SYSTEM: The 120 gram left kidney and 120 gram right kidney are similar. The renal arteries are patent. The external surface is smooth. The parenchyma on section is uniform and dark brown. The cortex averages 1.0 cm. Corticomedullary junctions are well maintained. The pelvic calyceal system and ureters are unremarkable. The bladder contains 15 cc of urine. With this removed the bladder wall is unremarkable. GENTAL SYSTEM: Uterus, tubes and ovaries are unremarkable and specifically absent is uterine enlargement. HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM: The 1270 gram liver has an unremarkable capsule. The liver on section is uniform and dark brown. No masses are identified. The gallbladder contains 10 cc of thick green viscid bile. The extrahepatic biliary system is unremarkable. GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT: The esophagus is unremarkable.The stomach contains 20 cc of thick green viscid bile. The pancreas on section is uniform, gray-pink and moderately firm. The opened duodenum has neither food, ulcers nor masses. Externally the small intestine, appendix and colon are unremarkable. LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE SYSTEM: The 60 gram spleen has an unremarkable capsule. The parenchyma is moderately softened and dark red-brown. Abdominal and thoracic lymph nodes are unremarkable. MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: See also EVIDENCE OF INJURY. It is otherwise unremarkable. MISCELLANEOUS: Dissection of the left popliteal fossa reveals a thrombus. The right popliteal fossa is also examined and is free of thrombi. RDD:jan/dlc BRAIN AFTER FIXATION: The now fixed brain is examined on January 26, 1996 at 1440 hours. It weighs 1380 grams. The gyri are sulci are unremarkable. The vasculature of the basilar and cerebral arterial circular systems are unremarkable. Specifically at the base of the brain there is no opacification of the meninges. Representative sections of pons, medulla and cerebellum adjacent to the upper spinal cord are submitted including their meninges. The serially sectioned pons, |
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REPORT OF AUTOPSY NAME- MC PHERSON, Lisa CASE NO.-1951474 PAGE 4 medulla and cerebellum are grossly unremarkable. The serially sectioned cerebrum has unremarkable gray and white matter. The lateral ventricles are unremarkable as is the basal ganglia. Scattered prominent vascular markings resembling petechia are present within the white matter of the left parietal lobe. The upper spinal cord is unremarkable. The brain is retained. RDD:me
MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION
LUNG: Sections of major pulmonary artery are remarkable for showing loosely adherent blood to the endothelim of the underlying vessel. Focally a layer of fibrin is present at the endothelium blood interface. RDD:dlc
LABORATORY DATA
Cerebrospinal fluid culture and sensitivity: Gram stain: Rare white blood cells seen Culture: No growth after 72 hours Cerebrospinal fluid bacterial antigens: Hemophilus influenza B: Negative Streptococcus pneumoniae: Negative N. Meningitidis groups A, C, Y and W135: Negative Neiserria meningitidis B/E. Coli K1: Negative WMH:md Vitreous sodium: 180 mmol/l Vitreous potassium: 13.9 mmol/l WMH:md Vitreous urea nitrogen: 300 mg/dl Vitreous creatinine: 2.6 mg/dl Vitreous glucose: 15 mg/dl vitreous chloride: 161 mmol/l Vitreous specific gravity: 1.337 WMH:md |
Drug Screen Results: Urine screen {TLC-Basic} was POSITIVE* for diphenhydramine. Urine screen {Immunoassay} was NEGATIVE.
Drug Quantitation Results: Ethanol: 0 gm/dl, Blood (Heart) Ethanol: 0 gm/dl, Vitreous (signed) Ronald R. Bell, B.S. Chief Toxicologist Dec 15,1995 | ||||||||
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