October 8, 2004 Autopsy Findings
Contributed by Billie M. Teague
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Dr. Bonnell found that not only was Janie's spinal cord separated by an extremely forceful blow, but
there had been obvious internal bleeding in her neck, left shoulder, cheek and forehead, as well as a
black eye and a disclored broken nose...none of which had been noted in the original autopsy report,
done by Dr. Fahmy Malak.
He also states that the autopsy revealed an impact to the left side of the face with bruising of the left
cheek, fracture and bleeding in the cartilage of the nose and bruising of the left forehead. This injury is
sometimes referred to as a "hangman" fracture.
Bonnell said it was obvious to him, that Janie's death was a "Homicide", caused by blunt force impact
and trauma to the face, and that there was no way she could have died in the manner some witnesses
described.
"It took enormous force to break her neck and injure her head in this way", he said.
In his final report, he also wrote: "this exhumation autopsy revealed a blow to the front of the head
causing fatal hyperextension injury to the spine."
He added that Janie's neck and shoulder showed "extensive internal bleeding from no single identifiable
source."
Bonnell also stated that Janie most likely was struck by a large soft-edged object that could generate
powerful force, yet not break the skin.
Bonnell's autopsy found no indication of bruising on the back of Janie's head, which was a noted injury in
Malak's autopsy report, in 1989.
Bonnell also noted in his report, "The prior autopsy report also describes a hyperextension which would
be inconsistent with an impact to the back of the head."
(In other words, her death is consistent with being struck from the "front", and with an object, and her
head went WAY back - rather than a fall backwards off a 9 1/2 in high porch.)
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