SOUTHWESTERN INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
5230 Medical Center Drive Dallas, Texas 75235
Case No. 2227-09-1679
DALLAS COUNTY
INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
Name: Frouman, Daniel Pasquale Age: 33
Race: White
Sex: Male
Date of Death: 08 JUL 2009 (Found)
Date of Examination: 09 JUL 2009
Time of Death: Found 1:45 pm
Time of Examination: 9:00 am
Pronounced at: 8820 Southwestern Boulevard Apt 1312
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
AUTOPSY REPORT:
ORGAN WEIGHTS:
Brain 1590 g
R. Lung 1010 g
R. Kidney 190 g
Heart 440 g
L. Lung 920 g
L. Kidney 190 g
Liver 1830 g
Spleen 345 g
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION:
The body is identified by tags. Photographs, fingerprints, hair standard, blood
standard, and fingernail clippings are taken.
The body is received clad in gray knit boxer shorts and black pants. A white
plastic bag with “Kohl’s” printed on the side covers the head and upper neck and
has one piece of duct tape securing the bag to the decedent’s neck. A second
piece of tape encloses the opposite end of the bag. A small piece of duct tape
is also on the abdomen.
The body is that of a normally developed white male which appears consistent
with the recorded age of 33 years. When nude, it measures 72 inches (182.9 cm)
in length and weighs 166 pounds (75.3 kg).
Very early signs of decomposition are present, in the absence of embalming. Rigor mortis is full. Lividity is
well developed and fixed, over the posterior portions of the body. The body is
cool subsequent to refrigeration.
The hairline is unremarkable and there is an average amount of short, straight,
dark brown hair. Short dark brown stubble covers the cheeks and chin in a full
beard distribution. The irides appear brown and there are no petechiae of the
bulbar or palpebral surfaces of the conjunctivae. The ears are unremarkable.
The nose contains a moderate amount of foamy, bloody purge fluid; the lips
exhibit mild drying along the lines of closure. The mouth has natural
dentition. The neck is without masses or unusual mobility. The chest and back are unremarkable. The abdomen is flat. The extremities are symmetric. The
external genitalia, anus, and perineum are unremarkable. The penis is
circumcised.
IDENTIFYING MARKS AND SCARS:
A 2-1/4 inch by 1-3/4 inch oval scar is on the lower abdomen, immediately to the right of midline. Several scattered, faint, linear scars are on the right shoulder and lateral upper extremities bilaterally.
EVIDENCE OF TREATMENT:
None.
EVIDENCE OF INJURY:
A 3/4 inch oval purple bruise is on the left flank.
EVIDENCE SUBMITTED:
The following items are collected, sealed within appropriately labeled
containers, and submitted to the Criminal Investigation Laboratory:
- White plastic bag with duct tape fragments
- Hair standard
- Blood standard
- Fingernail clippings
- Clothing.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION:
BODY CAVITIES: The thoracic and abdominal organs are in their normal anatomic positions. The right lung contains focal pleural adhesions, and a moderate amount of adhesions are in the right peritoneum, fusing the bowel to the right liver lobe. The pleural cavities contain 50 cc of serosanguinous fluid bilaterally, and the pericardial sac contains approximately 2 0 cc of serosanguinous fluid. The abdominal cavity contains no fluid.
HEAD: The scalp, subscalpular area, and skull are unremarkable. The dura and
dural sinuses are unremarkable. There are no epidural, subdural, or
subarachnoid hemorrhages. The leptomeninges are thin and delicate. The cerebral
hemispheres are symmetrical, with an unremarkable gyral pattern. The cranial
nerves and blood vessels are unremarkable. Sections through the cerebral
hemispheres, brainstem, and cerebellum are unremarkable. No hemorrhages are
visible within the deep white matter or the basal ganglia. The cerebral
ventricles contain no blood. The spinal cord, as viewed from the cranial
cavity, is unremarkable.
NECK: The soft tissues and prevertebral fascia are mildly congested; petechiae
or hemorrhage are not present. The hyoid bone and larynx are intact. The lumen
of the larynx contains a moderate amount of foamy, blood-tinged fluid. The
airway is not obstructed.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The intimal surface of the abdominal aorta is free of
significant atherosclerosis. The aorta and its major branches and the great
veins are normally distributed and unremarkable. The pulmonary arteries contain
no thromboemboli. The pericardium and epicardium are smooth, glistening, and
unremarkable. The endocardium lining is darkened, consistent with
decompositional artifact. There are no thrombi in the atria or ventricles.
The coronary arterial system is free of significant atherosclerosis. The atrial
and ventricular septa are intact. The cardiac valves are unremarkable. The
myocardium is dark red-brown and firm, and there are no focal abnormalities.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: The upper airway is not obstructed. The laryngeal mucosa is
smooth and unremarkable, without petechiae. A moderate amount of foamy,
blood-tinged fluid is present within the airways. The pleural surfaces are
smooth and glistening. The major bronchi are unremarkable. Sectioning of the
lungs discloses a dark red-blue, moderately congested and edematous parenchyma.
HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM: The liver is covered by a smooth, glistening capsule. The
parenchyma is dark red-brown and with moderate decompositional change. The
gallbladder contains approximately 5 cc of green, watery bile, with no calculi.
GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM: The esophageal mucosa is gray, smooth, and
unremarkable. The stomach contains approximately 200 cc of brown liquid
material, with minute fragments of partially digested food. There are no
tablets or capsules. The gastric mucosa has normal rugal folds, and there are
no ulcers. The small and large intestines are unremarkable. The appendix is
absent. The pancreas is unremarkable externally and upon sectioning.
GENITOURINARY SYSTEM: The capsules of both kidneys strip with ease to reveal
smooth and slightly lobulated surfaces. The cortices are of normal thickness,
with poorly demarcated corticomedullary junctions and darkening due to
decomposition. The calyces, pelves, and ureters are unremarkable. The urinary
bladder contains at least 30 cc of clear yellow urine. The mucosa is gray,
smooth, and unremarkable. The prostate gland is unremarkable both externally
and upon sectioning.
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: The thyroid and adrenal glands are unremarkable externally
and upon sectioning.
LYMPHORETICULAR SYSTEM: The spleen is covered by a smooth, blue-gray, intact
capsule. The parenchyma is dark red. The cervical, hilar, and peritoneal lymph
nodes are not enlarged.
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: The clavicles, ribs, sternum, pelvis, and vertebral
column have no fractures. The diaphragm is intact.
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION:
Lung: Sections of the lungs show congestion and edema with patchy
intra-alveolar hemorrhage and decompositional change.
Heart: Sections of the heart are unremarkable.
Liver: Sections of the liver show acute congestion, and mild decompositional change, without significant inflammation or fibrosis.
Kidney: Sections of the kidney show decompositional change.
Brain: Sections of the brain are without histopathologic abnormality.
FINDINGS:
1. Suffocation:
a. History of being found with plastic bag secured over head.
b. Pulmonary edema.
c. History of suicidal ideation.
d. Toxic levels of promethazine, hydrocodone, propoxyphene, and acetaminophen.
2. Mild to moderate decompositional changes.
CONCLUSION:
Based on the autopsy and history available to us, it is our opinion that Daniel
Pasquale Frouman, a 33-year-old white male, died as the result of suffocation.
MANNER OF DEATH: Suicide.
[signature] 9/29/09
Meredith A. Lann, M.D.
Pathologist
[signature] 9-29-09
Reade A. Quinton, M.D.
Medical Examiner
[signature] 9/29/09
Jeffrey A Barnard, M.D.
Chief Medical Examiner
TOXICOLOGY:
Postmortem Blood:
Alcohols and Acetone – 0.03% ethanol.
Cannabinoid Screen – negative.
Drug Screen
4.6 mg/L promethazine.
0.10 mg/L dihydrocodeine
35 mg/L propoxyphene.
0.54 mg/L norpropoxyphene.
900 mg/L acetaminophen.
3.4 mg/L hydrocodone.
Vitreous: Alcohols and Acetone – negative.
Protocol typed by Erma Robinson