The Medical Examiner and Sheriff

Not long after my conversation with the coroner, I got in contact with the Medical Examiner who performed Russell's Autopsy.  He was quite kind, patient, and took the time to answer all of my questions and explain anything I didn't understand.  He was sure to point out that this was PROBABLE Hypothermia due to Exposure.  He said that no, that he wasn't 100% certain that it was Hypothermia, however with the tests they did perform it was consistant with Hypothermia.  I asked about the "accidental" vs "undetermined" cause of death on the death certificate and was told that was not his call, but the coroners call.  I asked about the marks and wounds I had read about in the autopsy pertaining especially to his lower back.  In the autopsy, it was refered to as "abrated tissue".  (Keep in mind that at this time we did not have photos to compare the autopsy and other reports to).  The best comparison he could give me was that of "road rash".  I asked him specifically about these wounds because in speaking with the Coroner she stated, "the only marks I couldn't explain that he had were the two on his back.  I asked the Army if they could have been caused by wearing a backpack the wrong way, but the Army said no".  The sheriff had told my dad that there were two "insignificant puncture wounds on his back" which my dad and many of us, believed to be something like Russell having sat on a nail or something.  Suddenly, the explanations of these wounds greatly varied depending upon which "professional" you spoke to about them.

In this phone conversation with the ME, he also stated that while none of the other wounds (including those on his back) were the CAUSE his death, they were CERTAINLY Indicative of what he experienced and went through prior to his death.  Still, no one in authority has ever attempted to investigate or determine the causes of these other wounds and markings all over his body.  The autopsy and other reports stated that the wounds and markings on Russell were consistent with a fall or tumble down the hill.  While reading all of these reports and listening to what those in authority were telling me, there just wasn't "enough" ... of anything.  It simply did not make sense that the things we were reading and being told was enough to cause and explain his death.  Many of us have felt all along that there HAD TO BE MORE TO IT.  And it has never made sense that we were the only ones who were questioning what the "findings" were.

After receiving the first set of reports from the Chippewa County Sheriffs Department (CCSD) and realizing that it was not all-inclusive, it took several phone calls and requests before I could get the "approval" to receive this information.  The sheriff called me at one point to find out what exactly I was asking for.  I told him I wanted everything they had to include cell phone records, bank records, investigative reports, inventory lists, etc. absolutely everything they had.  A short while after that, he asked if I also wanted the autopsy photos.  I said yes, I want everything.  Upon receiving the remaining reports and CD with photos on it, I saw that the CD I had was labeled Disc 2.  I then made another call and asked that the other CD be sent to me as well.  Finally, I had received "everything" CCSD had.

It was quite a while before I actually viewed the photos of my nephew.  I was asked by several friends and family members to not do so.  My husband had looked at them and had shown me a few that didn't show his face so that I could see what some of the things refered to in the autopsy.  When I did finally view these pictures I was horried at what had been explained to me as "road rash" and "insignificant puncture wounds".  If these were consistent with a "fall or tumble" down the hill, why wasn't there any leaves, or wood bark, or grass and dirt, etc. in, on and all around these areas?  These were most certainly extremely painful wounds that would have affected his being able to walk.  You would have definately noticed him limping or favoring his body had these wounds been present to whatever had been the beginning of his demise.

In other conversations with the Sheriff, not only between the sheriff and I, but my dad and the sheriff as well, our questions were never answered.  They were turned around and he asked us what we thought happened.  He has always acted as though it was completely normal to find a 20 year old, militarily trained, young man in the best shape of his life lying at the bottom of a hill for "no apparent reason" and allowing hypothermia to set.  The investigate reports even stated that a "brush pile" in the area near his body looked to be "a shelter Russell was trying to build".  Really?!  In all of your years in law enforcement, we are supposed to believe you when you "speculate" that Russell attempted to build a make shift shelter, and yet didn't make one move to get up the hill, to his car to save himself from freezing to death?  I don't think so ... Everything Russell would have needed to save himself was in that car ... and alot of what should have been in his pockets were on the dash of his car ... his cell phone, wallet, pocket knife, lighter.  And he had a duffle bag full of warm clothing.  Yet NONE of this seems ODD to anyone in authority who say they have investigated this case.  What a sad day it is that things to blatantly out of place, and ridiculous are not questioned by those who have the authority to do something about it ... how sad is it that family members have had to investigate and uncover all of these descrepancies and to only be treated as clueless, insignificant, emotional family members who do not matter because they don't have the right last name, or enough money to matter!?!?  This is absolutely outrageous.

I will end this post here ... and continue at a later time.  I pray each of you put your faith and trust in God and let Him guide you and keep you, for in All things, He is faithful.

Wishing you all a great weekend,
~ Peggy ~

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