Department of Pathology

Medical Center Blvd

Winston-Salem, NC 27157
Phone: (336) 716-4311
Fax: (336) 716-7595

MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSY REPORT

Pathologist:
Resident:
Autopsy Assistant:
Service:
Admitted:
Expired:
Autopsied:
Reported:
Attending Physician:

Medical
Examiner:

J. L. McLemore, M.D., Pathology

Kristine Etheridge-Dickerson

Patient Name::
Medical Record #:
DOB/Age::
Race/Gender:

DIZ, TATIANNA

NCBH Path #:

A15-1845

8/4/1995 (Age: 20)

W/F

10/28/2015
11/9/2015
12/7/2015
John P. Stewart
Buncombe County Medical Examiner

FINAL AUTOPSY DIAGNOSIS

I. Indeterminate range gunshot wound of the head, without exit
A. Entrance gunshot wound of posterior right occipital scalp
B. Graze lacerations of the lateral right occipital lobe
C. Projectile: 130.6 grain, fully jacketed bullet recovered from petrous ridge of right temporal bone
D. Trajectory: back to front, very slightly left to right, neither upward nor downward
II. Blunt force injuries of legs
A. Contusions of the left knee
B. Abraded contusion of the right lower leg
***Electronically Signed Out By:

J. L. McLemore, M.D., Pathology***

ts

Summary of Findings
The cause of death for this 20-year-old woman, Tatianna Diz, is a gunshot wound of the head.
According to investigative reports, the decedent was one of two missing women whose vehicle was found at the edge of the
French Broad River, partially submerged. Blood was noted within the front passenger side of the car. The decedents body was
found in the river, approximately 1- 1 1/2 weeks after being reported missing.
Autopsy findings revealed an entrance gunshot wound at the back of the head. The bullet caused injury to the back part of the right
side of the brain. A bullet was recovered from within the skull. Toxicologic analysis of postmortem blood detected no ethanol.

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

DIZ, TATIANNA

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DIZ, TATIANNA
Body Weight:
Body Length:
BMI:

105 lb
62 in
19.2

Autopsy Report

A15-1845

Representatives for the Asheville Police Department are present

during the autopsy.
The body is received within a sealed body bag. The body is that of a
well-developed, petite, adult Hispanic woman whose stated age is 20
years. Body identification includes a bracelet within the body bag. Facial
features are recognizable. The identification is confirmed by
circumstances and tattoos.
The body is received clothed in a green/beige/blue striped sweater; a
shirt; denim jeans; a bra; underwear; two socks. Personal effects
accompanying the body include a black cord necklace with a turtle
pendant; a black cord around the left wrist; a black pocketknife clipped
to the front right belt loop of the jeans.
The body is covered by adherent brown-green mud that is thicker on the
torso and arms. The body is cold to the touch. Rigor mortis is absent.
Livor mortis is indistinct. Early decompositional changes include slight
gaseous distension of the soft tissues of the face and torso, and patchy
green discoloration that is more prominent on the abdomen.
The scalp hair is dark brown, wavy and measures to 23 inches in length
over the crown and the left side of the head. The hair is cropped short
and dyed blonde on the right side of the head.
The irides are dark gray; the pupils are symmetrical. The corneae are
clouded. The sclerae and conjunctivae are pale. The nose and ears are
not unusual except for 1/4 inch earlobe piercings. The lips and gums are
pale. The teeth are natural and in adequate condition. The neck is
without masses, and the larynx is in the midline.
The thorax is symmetrical. The breasts are well-developed, without
palpable masses. The abdomen is flat. The external genitalia are those
of a normal adult woman, without injuries. The anus and back are
unremarkable. The upper and lower extremities are well-developed and
symmetrical, without absence of digits. Black polish covers the toenails.
Identifying marks and scars consist of a monochromatic thunderbird-like
tattoo on the upper right chest.
No evidence of emergency resuscitation or medical therapy is present.
Evidence turned over to representatives from the Asheville Police
Department during the autopsy includes a bloodspot card; pulled scalp
hair; clothing and personal effects; bullet from the head; right thumb and
right index fingerprints.

EVIDENCE OF INJURY
HEAD AND NECK
GUNSHOT WOUND
On the posterior right occipital scalp, 3 inches below the top of the head,
32 inches above the inferior gluteal fold, and 2 1/2 inches right of the
posterior midline, is a 1/8 inch, oval defect with a less than 1/16 inch,
pink marginal abrasion which is widest at the 4:00 to 7:00 position,
consistent with an entrance gunshot wound. No soot or stippling is on
the skin surrounding the entrance gunshot wound. A 2-inch,
surrounding, red contusion is present. There are 1/16 inch, radiating,
superficial lacerations at the 11:00 and 12:00 position of the wound. The
wound track sequentially perforates the posterior right occipital bone
and travels tangentially along the lateral right occipital bone, producing a
1 1/2 x 1/2 inch wound track traveling from the posterior to anterior
direction through the bone. Associated injuries include confluent grazing
lacerations of the lateral right occipital lobes with associated
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Autopsy Report

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subarachnoid hemorrhage. A 130.6 grain, fully jacketed bullet with a 1/4

to 5/16 inch base diameter is found within a 1/2 inch cavitary penetrating
defect at the lateral aspect of the petrous ridge of the right temporal
bone. A radiating fracture extends along the lateral right middle cranial
fossa from this cavity defect. Periorbital hemorrhage is visualized
through the right orbital plate, and an associated dark red-brown
periorbital ecchymosis involves the right eye. The trajectory is from the
decedents front-to-back with a very slight right-to left direction.
CHEST AND ABDOMEN
NONE
UPPER EXTREMITIES
NONE
LOWER EXTREMITIES
Three adjacent, 1/4 inch, dark red and purple contusions are on the left
knee. A 3/4 inch, pink-centered, dark red-purple, abraded contusion is
on the proximal anterolateral right lower leg.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION
BODY CAVITIES
Panniculus adiposus: 1.5 cm

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Brain weight: 1250 gm

The right and left pleural cavities contain 250 mL and 200 mL of thin,
red, decompositional fluid, respectively. Approximately 50 mL of similar
fluid is within the peritoneal cavity. All body organs are present in normal
and anatomical position.

Injuries are described in the Evidence of Injury section

The dura mater and falx cerebri are intact except for injuries associated
with the gunshot wound. The leptomeninges have focal subarachnoid
hemorrhage. The cerebral hemispheres are asymmetrical due to injuries
of the occipital lobe. The structures at the base of the brain, including
cranial nerves and blood vessels, are intact and free of abnormality.
Sections through the cerebral hemispheres reveal no non-traumatic
lesions within the cortex, subcortical white matter, or deep parenchyma
of either hemisphere. The basal ganglia, thalami, and Ammon's horn are
unremarkable. The cerebral ventricles are normal caliber. Sections
through the brain stem and cerebellum are unremarkable.

NECK
Examination of the soft tissues of the neck, including strap muscles and
large vessels, reveals no abnormalities. The hyoid bone and laryngeal
cartilages are intact. The lingual mucosa is intact; the underlying firm
red-brown musculature is devoid of hemorrhage.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Heart weight: 210 gm

DIZ, TATIANNA

The pericardial surfaces are smooth, glistening and unremarkable; the

pericardial sac is free of significant fluid or adhesions. The coronary
arteries arise normally, follow a right-dominant distribution, and are
widely patent, without significant atherosclerosis or thrombi. The
chambers and valves bear the usual size-position relationships and are
unremarkable. The myocardium is dark red-brown, soft, and
unremarkable; the atrial and ventricular septa are intact. The
thicknesses of the ventricular walls are: left ventricle (0.7 cm);
interventricular septum (0.7 cm); right ventricle (0.2 cm). The aorta and
its major branches arise normally, follow the usual course, and are
widely patent, free of significant atherosclerosis and other abnormality.
The vena cava and its major tributaries return to the heart in the usual
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DIZ, TATIANNA

Autopsy Report

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distribution and are free of thrombi.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Right lung weight: 380 gm
Left lung weight:
320 gm

LIVER AND BILIARY SYSTEM

Liver weight: 1120 gm
Bile volume:
1-2 mL

The upper airway is clear of debris, foreign material, and fluid; the
mucosal surfaces are smooth, yellow-tan and unremarkable. The pleural
surfaces are smooth, glistening and unremarkable. Lobar divisions are
of the usual configuration. The pulmonary parenchyma is dark purple,
exuding small amounts of blood and frothy fluid; no focal lesions are
noted. The pulmonary arteries are normally developed, patent, and
without thrombus or embolus.

The hepatic capsule is smooth, glistening and intact, covering brown

parenchyma with focal putrefaction cysts within the right lobe of the liver.
The gallbladder contains dark, mucoid bile; the mucosa is velvety and
unremarkable. The extrahepatic biliary tree is patent, without calculi.
The portal vein and its tributaries are unremarkable.

ALIMENTARY TRACT
The esophagus is lined by gray-white, smooth mucosa. The gastric
mucosa has postmortem loss of the usual rugal folds and the lumen has
150 mL of tan, thick liquid with pink-red, meat-like material and
yellow-white, partially digested material. The serosa of the small and
large bowel is unremarkable. The appendix is present. The pancreas
has a normal gray-white, lobulated appearance and the ducts are
unobstructed.
GENITOURINARY TRACT
Right kidney: 110 gm
Left kidney:
100 gm
Urine volume: < 1 mL

The renal capsules are smooth and thin, semi-transparent, and strip with
ease from the underlying smooth, dark brown cortical surfaces. The
cortex is sharply delineated from the medullary pyramids, which are dark
purple and unremarkable. The calyces, pelves, and ureters are
unremarkable. The relationships at the trigone are unremarkable. The
mucosa of the urinary bladder is gray-tan and smooth. The uterus,
fallopian tubes, ovaries and vagina are unremarkable. The endometrium
is 0.1 cm thick and tan-red. The breast tissue has the usual fibrous and
adipose mixture.

RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM
Spleen weight: 120 gm
The spleen has a smooth, intact capsule covering dark purple, soft
parenchyma; the lymphoid follicles are indistinct. The regional lymph
nodes appear normal. The bone marrow is red-purple and
homogeneous, without focal abnormality.
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
The pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands are unremarkable.
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM
Except as noted in the "Evidence of Injury" section, the remaining bony
framework, supporting musculature, and soft tissues are not unusual.

Block Summary:
Brain
Pancreas
Lung
Heart
Spleen, kidney
Liver
Microscopic Description:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

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Autopsy Report

A15-1845

LUNGS- Sections show postmortem breakdown and intravascular bacterial overgrowth.

The remaining tissue sections show postmortem breakdown but no significant histopathology.

TOXICOLOGY
Toxicology Folder:
Date of Report:

T201509155
16-nov-2015

DECEDENT: Tatianna Diz

Status of Report: Approved
Report Electronically Approved By: Justin Brower, PhD

===============================================================================
SPECIMENS received from Jerri L. McLemore on 12-nov-2015
S150025611: 5.0 ml Blood
SOURCE: Iliac vein

CONDITION: Postmortem
OBTAINED: 09-nov-2015

Ethanol --------------------- None Detected

11/16/2015
_______________________________________________________________________________
S150025612:
SOURCE: Liver

Liver

CONDITION: Postmortem
OBTAINED: 09-nov-2015

_______________________________________________________________________________
S150025613:
SOURCE: Other

Muscle

CONDITION: Postmortem
OBTAINED: 09-nov-2015

Anatomic source is thigh.

_______________________________________________________________________________
S150025614:
SOURCE: Brain

Brain

CONDITION: Postmortem
OBTAINED: 09-nov-2015

_______________________________________________________________________________
Accredited by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology, Inc.
111615 16:02

*** END

OF

REPORT ***

COPY TO:
John P. Stewart, MD

DIZ, TATIANNA

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