A Lesson in Drowning — part III

       The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner, Eastern Division, determined that the time of death was most likely about three to four hours before the corpse was pulled from the water, based on body and water temperature, and also on the distance from the bridge and the pace of the river that day. But the conversations he had with Sheriff Gray concerning the unusual nature of the death convinced him to do a full autopsy.

       Sheriff Gray was just finishing dinner at home when he got the call.

       “Sheriff Gray, this is Monte Hartford with the Medical Examiner’s office. I have the results of the autopsy.”

       “Hold on a second, let me take this on the phone in my study.” The sheriff retreated to the small dimly-lit utility room he had converted to an office and closed the door. “What do you have for me, Doctor?”

       “Cause of death was indeed drowning. There was water in the lungs, and it is likely it took place in the River, since I found escherichia coli and enterococcus bacterias trapped in her larynx. These are common to the Illinois River Watershed. I also discovered diatoms from that area. Barring any other evidence, I’m going to have to rule this one an accident.”

       “All right, thank you Doctor. I have to tell you, though, there’s something about this case that makes it difficult for me to buy that. I just can’t put my finger on it.”

       “Sheriff, there was one other thing — her skin. Its characteristics were such that if I didn’t know better, I would have though she had been in the water a lot longer.”

       “Is that so?” Sheriff Grey asked. “Doctor Harford, tomorrow I’m going to call in the OSBI on this one. Can you put her back on ice for awhile?”

(excerpt from A Lesson in Drowning © 2011 by Horton Deakins)