“Well, I can say there are many unusual observations surrounding this body,” Dr. Rademacher says as he passes out pictures from a folder. “First, the body is a lean male but was found floating face-up. Most bodies float face-down, with their spines dorsal facing the sky and the limbs dangling below the water’s surface. Women and obese people may sometimes float face-up due to the gas accumulating in the breasts or very large abdomen. Neither applies to our body. If the body was submerged for a week or two, then it may float face-up. However, as the stream was frozen prior to the body being discovered, I don’t know what caused the position the body was found in.” As Dr. Rademacher speaks, he points to key findings from the pictures.
“Second, I can’t determine cause of death. There was fluid found in the lungs, but unlike television shows, this isn’t proof of drowning, especially with the body being in water for an unknown period. Water gets into the lungs of submerged bodies, even if they died outside of the water. But the typical foamy lungs of a drowning victim are absent which may be attributed to weeks of submersion or not drowning altogether. I can confirm the water found in the lungs matches the water from the stream. This means I can rule out the person drowning in saltwater, but the body dumped in freshwater.” No pictures accompany this declaration.
“There is no evidence of cuts, bruises, or clawing on the hands or other parts of the body that may indicate scrabbling to get out of the water or fighting off someone holding your head underwater. There is evidence of hemorrhages in the lungs and around the face and eyes, consistent with asphyxiation. There are no suspicious physical injuries to the body and no evidence of heart or cardiovascular disease.” He passes around several pictures of close-ups of hands as well as pictures of the other limbs, head, and torso.
“Also, because of the temperature of the water, I can’t provide time of death. The freezing temperature preserved the body, so tissue analysis is not reliable. In addition, the water immediately surrounding the body was warmer than the icy water farther away which introduces a variable into trying to determine how long the body was submerged prior to floating back to the surface. An average body can be submerged from four days to three weeks depending on the temperature of the water and body composition.
“Finally, we do have a possible name for the deceased, but I won’t release that information pending positive ID. I ordered a full toxicology panel, but that can take six to eight weeks. However, I can’t authorize you to run any tests on the blood or bones. Consent for that will have to come from the next of kin. The deceased wasn’t from around here, so it’ll be this afternoon at the earliest for a family representative to arrive. Either I or Sheriff Ulate will ask for approval when they do.”
“Wow, that’s a lot to take in. Thank you Dr. Rademacher.” Wendy tries to diplomatic with her next request. “I understand that approval is required for any invasive tests. However, are we able to view the body? Or, not so much view as be near the body? He can stay covered. Our abilities vary, and I wish to assess the health of the body prior to death and Vito may be able sense something.” Wendy watches while Sheriff Ulate and Dr. Rademacher silently confer and seem to reach a decision.
“Normally, I don’t let people near the deceased. Positive ID is done through pictures in a very respectful manner. I’ll allow you and Mr. Mata into the room, but both the sheriff and I will be there and no cell phones nor recording devices. If your companions don’t mind staying in here, I can take you back.”
“Will the deceased be in a cold storage room or on an autopsy table? Or is there perhaps a viewing room?” Wendy hopes that the answer isn’t autopsy table. She’s a healer by nature and to see a body in that environment is unsettling.
“Right now, he’s in cold storage, we don’t have a viewing room. But I can get him on a gurney in a space large enough for four people.”
“I don’t know about Wendy, but I would like that,” Vito chimes in. “It would be better for me to have 360° access as opposed to him being half in the storage rack.”
Sepulveda, Libby, and Tiko are willing to stay in the conference room and Wendy, Vito, and Sheriff Ulate wait with them while Dr. Rademacher prepares the body for viewing. Wendy lets Sully know she will not have her phone with her for a bit and to contact Sepulveda if needed. Dr. Rademacher returns to collect them and they follow him down a hallway. Outside of the door marked Staff Only is a red warning sign No photos unless authorized by Medical Examiner. Dr. Rademacher swipes his badge and Wendy hears the noise indicating a lock is released, then the doctor pulls open the heavy metal door.
A draped gurney is in the middle of a large, open room. The wall to the left of the door holds the body storage cold lockers, four columns of three rows, so twelve in all. There’s a pair of swing doors with Autopsy Room stenciled on the upper frosted glass opposite the door they entered. There is also a large door on the wall to the right of the main door labeled Transport. She supposes it’s a nice set up, not having been inside many morgues.
They walk over to the gurney. Before Dr. Rademacher can turn down the sheet to expose the deceased’s face, Wendy makes a motion. “Doctor, my apologies. Can you wait one moment? Vito?”
Vito is standing at the left foot of the gurney. He’s staring out blankly across the room with an absent look on his face. Wendy knows that Vito is
