The autopsy report for Marina Habe is presented below. I transcribed the text from low-resolution photos of the original report to enhance readability and included explanations for medical terms in brackets. A full explanation of the autopsy report can be found here: Inside the Autopsy Report.
OFFICE OF CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER-CORONER
Date: January 2, 1969 – 11:30 AM
I performed an autopsy on the body of Marina Habe at Office of Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner, Hall of Justice, Los Angeles, and from the anatomic findings and pertinent history, I ascribe the death to: Exsanguinating External Hemorrhage (severe blood loss).
Due to: Severed Left Carotid Artery.
Due to: Multiple Stab Wounds of Neck & Thorax.
Other conditions: Multiple Contusions of Face and Body, Garrotting (strangulation).
Final: Jan. 6, 1969.
ANATOMICAL SUMMARY
- Transection (severing), left common carotid artery.
- Hemopleura (blood in the pleural cavity, the space surrounding the lungs), minimal, bilateral.
- Multiple stab wounds of thorax, abdomen, and back.
- Dilation of anus.
- Dilation of vagina.
- Bilateral atrophy of ovaries.
- Laceration (tear) of liver.
- Recently ingested meal in stomach.
- Contusions of scalp.
- Cerebral congestion and edema (excess blood and swelling in the brain).
The hair is medium brown, normal in amount and distribution, worn quite long, averaging approximately 18 inches in length. Inspection and palpation of the scalp reveals no grossly apparent injury.
The irides (colored part of the eye) are blue-gray, the pupils are round and equal measuring approximately 4 mm in diameter. There is contusion (bruise) of both eyes, more prominent on the left.
The external ears and nose are unremarkable (normal). Behind the right ear is a recent area of slightly abraded and contused injury with moderate subcutaneous (under the skin) swelling.
The teeth are the decedent’s own and in good repair. There is no evidence of injury about the mouth or lips.
On the right neck, 8 1/2 inches below the top of the head and approximately 2 inches to the right of the midline is a wound of incised (cut) nature; this has one edge which is sharp, and this is directed laterally; the other edge is somewhat rounded and directed medially. The wound measures 1 inch in length.
On the left neck, centering 9 inches below the top of the head and beginning about 1/2 inch to the left of the midline, is a large gaping incised wound in which the edges are sharp. Inspection of the depth of the wound shows a through-and-through sharp incision (deep cut) of the laryngeal cartilage (voice box).
Above and extending from the inner medial end (closer to the center of the body) of the wound, crossing the midline, is an irregular wavy, slightly contused (bruised) mark. Below the major incised (cut) wound just described are two small punctate (pinpoint) wounds with slight contusions, which barely extend through the skin.
Across the back of the neck and extending anteriorly and laterally on both sides is a superficially abraded contused area with a somewhat pattern marking indicating linear parallel deeper abrasion consistent with a folded cloth. (This section is about strangulation. Marina was likely strangled with a folded cloth or scarf, as indicated by the pattern of abrasions on her neck.)
On the left upper thorax (chest) is an irregular superficial contusion with very slight abrasion; this is 3 inches to the left on the midline and it measures 1 1/2 by 3/4 inch.
In the left upper chest are two incised stab-type wounds, the most medial centering two inches to the left of the midline. The wound measures 1 inch in length and gapes open to a distance of 1/2 inch. The previously described wound is oriented on a horizontal direction.
Just lateral (toward the side) to the end of this wound is another incised stab-type wound measuring 3/4 inch in length and gaping to the distance of 1/2 inch; this is oriented in a vertical direction as related to the previous wound and shows the lower margins to be sharp, while the upper margins have a rounded configuration.
Just below these two described wounds is a small punctate wound barely piercing the skin; just above are two similar punctate marks. At the base of the right neck is a similar punctate mark.
Almost exactly in the center of the chest, 14 inches below the top of the head is an incised stab-type wound oriented on a horizontal direction; this measures 1 1/8 inch in length and gaps open to a distance of 1/2 inch.
Two-and-one-half inches below the previously described wound is a rounded injury measuring 1/2 inch in diameter which has the appearance of a burned area.
Nineteen-and-one-half inches below the top of the head, and approximately 1/2 inch to the left of the midline is an elliptical incised wound (a clean, sharp-edged cut) measuring approximately 1 inch in length and gaping to a distance of approximately 5/8 of an inch. This has a sharp edge mark directed to the left, with the rounded edge directed toward the midline; it is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the horizontal.
Just lateral to this wound centering 18 1/2 inches below the top of the head and oriented at an angle of approximately 60 degrees away from the vertical is a similar incised stab wound measuring about 1 1/8 inch in length and gaping over to about 5/8.
In the midline on the same level as these two wounds are two small punctate wounds each about 1/4 inch in diameter. Two inches to the left of the midline approximately 1/2 inch above these last described wounds is a punctate, somewhat contused wound.
The abdomen is flat and symmetrical and shows no grossly apparent injuries. On the left upper arm approximately 3 1/2 inches below the tip of the shoulder is a somewhat oval flat scar area with the surface of the scar being pinkish in color and containing several punctate marks.
Approximately 3 inches below the tip of the shoulder and approximately 6 inches left lateral to the midline is an elliptical stab-type wound showing the sharp margin directed upward, the rounded margin directed downward, the wound measures approximately 1 1/8 inch in length and gaps open to about 1/2 inch.
On the tip of the right index finger is an abraded area extending under the nail and measuring about 3/8 inch in maximum diameter. There is a very small paired lesion at the tip of the right thumb. On the right ring finger is a silver-appearing ring which is fairly loose and in a serpentine configuration.
Inspection of the remainder of the back shows no evidence or injury; livor (post-mortem settling of blood) is present here and is now fully fixed. There are pressure points corresponding to the distribution of clothing. There is apparent tanning of the body with pale areas corresponding to distribution of bikini panties and brassiere.
Inspection of the anus shows it to be quite widely dilated and with apparent contusion around the anal ring; smears are prepared from this area. There is very slight contusion around the anal ring.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION
The body is opened by the usual Y-shaped incision. The subcutaneous fat is found to be normal in amount, color, and distribution. As the soft tissue is reflected off of the thorax, extensive hemorrhage (internal bleeding) is noted in the left pectoralis muscle (major chest muscle) related to the previously noted stab wounds.
Here the stab wound is seen to go through the 2nd rib and through the parietal pleura (the outer membrane lining the chest cavity), but does not enter the lung, though there is a contused appearing area in the upper lobe of the left lung related to this injury.
The sternum (breastbone) shows a through-and-through stab wound which enters the anterior mediastinum (space in the chest between the lungs) but does not reach the heart or great vessels. There is extensive laceration (tearing of tissue) and hemorrhage (bleeding into the tissue) in the right pectoralis muscle.
The sternal plate (the flat part of the breastbone) is removed. The serous cavities (the internal spaces in the body lined with smooth membranes) are free from adhesions (abnormal tissue connections). Both lungs are totally collapsed.
The left pleural cavity (the space around the left lung) contains an estimated 200 ccs of fresh unclotted blood; the right, about 150 ccs. The pericardial cavity (the space around the heart) is unremarkable. The peritoneal cavity (the abdominal cavity) is unremarkable except for a small amount of free uncoagulated blood. The organs are now removed.
LUNGS
The left lung weighs 150 grams, the right lung 180 grams. Both lungs are collapsed. The pleural surfaces are smooth, and no gross abnormality is noted with the exception of the previously described stab wound of the left lower lobe. The tracheobronchi (the main airways leading to the lungs) are patent (open and unobstructed) and contain fresh unclotted blood; however, no obstruction is observed.
HEART
The heart weighs 200 grams before opening. The surface is smooth. The heart is opened along the course of the blood. The myocardium (heart muscle) is firm and dark red, showing no evidence of old or recent infarction (tissue death due to lack of blood supply). The valves are within normal limits and are grossly unremarkable. Serial sectioning of the coronary arteries shows them to be flexible and patent (open) throughout.
SPLEEN
The spleen weighs 150 grams and has a smooth surface. On section, the cut surface is relatively bloodless, and the malpighian corpuscles (small white pulp nodules) are correspondingly increased in prominence.
LIVER
The liver weighs 1200 grams and has sharp margins. There is a triangular shaped deep laceration of the anterior surface of the left lobe; this extends deep into the liver tissue and is surrounded by hemorrhage. On section, the remainder of the liver is grossly unremarkable. Cut surface is moderately pale. The biliary tract (ducts carrying bile from the liver) is unremarkable.
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
The gastrointestinal tract (the digestive system) from the esophagus (food pipe) to the rectum is removed. The stomach contains a small recently ingested meal in which green peas, green beans, some sort of fruit, and a rather formless grayish-tan grumose-appearing material (partially digested food) can be identified. This meal has just begun to enter the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). The remainder of the gastrointestinal tract is unremarkable. The appendix is present.
PANCREAS
Grossly unremarkable.
ADRENALS
Bilaterally symmetrical and small. On section there is no grossly remarkable change.
KIDNEYS
The kidneys weigh 200 grams together, and on section show no grossly remarkable change. The cut surface is quite pale. The bladder is empty.
INTERNAL GENITAL ORGANS
The uterus is small and symmetrical. It is opened; the mucosa (the inner lining) is pale and slightly thickened, there is no evidence of pregnancy. Both tubes and ovaries are present. The ovaries are small but show no fibrosis (scarring).
No evidence of corpus luteum cysts (fluid-filled sacs that form after ovulation) or recent corpus lutea (structures formed in the ovary after an egg is released) are noted. The cervix and vaginal mucosa (inner lining of the vaginal wall) are intact with no apparent trauma.
HEAD
The scalp is incised and reflected. On the left temporal parietal region (the area on the side of the head near the top) near the midline is a recent contusion which extends throughout the scalp and into the periosteum (the membrane covering the bone); this measures approximately 1 1/2 by 1 inch in maximum diameter.
The calvarium (the upper part of the skull) is removed; no evidence of fracturing is seen. The dura (the tough outer membrane covering the brain) is intact, and there is no epi or subdural hematoma (bleeding between the brain and skull).
The arachnoid space (the fluid-filled space between the brain and its outer membrane) does not appear to contain excess fluid, and there is no hemorrhage (bleeding). Inspection of the arteries at the base of the brain reveals no abnormality. The brain is sectioned sagitally (cut along the midline) and shows no congestion (excess blood accumulation) and no notable edema (swelling due to fluid buildup).
There is no evidence of injury, and no present disease can be identified. Section of the pons (part of the brainstem that links the cerebrum and the cerebellum) and brainstem (the lower part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord) shows no remarkable changes. Inspection of the base of the skull after stripping of the dura (the tough outer membrane covering the brain) reveals no evidence of injury.
Date: January 1, 1969 – 7:15 PM
RIGOR MORTIS
Scale 0 = Absence/Negative
Scale 4 = Extreme Degree
Neck:
Anterior flexion 3+
Posterior flexion 3+
Right lateral flexion 3+
Left lateral flexion 3+
Jaw: 3+
Shoulders: 3+
Elbow: 2+
Hip: 2+
Knee: 2+
Ankle: 2+
TEMPERATURE
Environment temperature: 71 F
Date: 1-1-69
Time: 6:00 PM
Liver temperature: 58 F
Where taken: Hall of Justice
Date: 1-1-69
Time: 7:15 PM
LIVOR MORTIS
Body fully clothed. Unable to check livor mortis.