Latest news with #OCME
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Barman's horrifying death 'boiled alive like a lobster' after falling down drain
Dr Judy Melinek, who has worked as a medical examiner in New York City, has seen a lot of death in her time - but one case in particular will always haunt her Dealing with death on a daily basis is not for the faint-hearted, but for one profession, they are well-versed in all aspects of life's end. Medical examiners face every facet of death and often provide explanations for what transpired in the final moments of an individual's life. Dr Judy Melinek, a medical examiner based in New York City, has shed light on her experiences in the role, including the most horrific death she has ever witnessed. In her 2014 book, Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner, she reveals some of the terrifying ways that life in the bustling city can lead to death. The book delves into detail about her encounters on the job and offers a profound exploration of the subject of death. In an interview with the New York Post about her previous role, Dr Melinek disclosed that during her studies in the city, her chief resident informed her that NYC had 'all kinds of great ways to die'. This advice turned out to be incredibly accurate and has since shaped her life, reports the Mirror US. She now believes she has seen virtually everything when it comes to death and the various ways a person can meet their demise. "The worst nightmares I ever had in my two years at OCME (Office of Chief Medical Examiner) came after I performed the postmortem examination of Sean Doyle," she said. Dr Melinek recounts that Doyle, a bartender in New York, had been out for drinks with his mate Michael Wright and Wright's girlfriend on a fateful night in 2002. It's thought that Wright suspected Doyle of making advances towards his girlfriend, leading to a heated argument between the two. The precise sequence of events that followed remains uncertain, but Doyle ended up at the bottom of an open manhole. He plummeted approximately 18 feet into the gaping hole, landing in a pool of scalding water gushing from a ruptured main. Astonishingly, he survived the fall without any fractures - however, this turned out to be far from fortunate due to the blistering water below. His demise was far more horrific as emergency services were unable to rescue him from the tunnel promptly due to the extreme heat. After crying out for help, Doyle tragically succumbed to the intense heat, perishing as temperatures soared to a searing 148°C. Dr Melinek described the deceased man as appearing as if he'd 'been steamed like a lobster'. His skin's outer layer had entirely sloughed off, and his internal organs were cooked. The medical examiner stated that this case was the one that stood out for her and unsurprisingly gave her the 'worst nightmares' of her career to date.
Irish Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man 'boiled alive like a lobster' after falling down drain in horrifying death
Confronting mortality is all in a day's work for those who operate at the sharp end of life's full stop, and there's one vocation that's privy to every secret of our final curtain. Medical examiners are tasked with piecing together the puzzle of death, often deciphering the narrative of someone's last chapter. Dr Judy Melinek, a seasoned medical examiner from New York City, has peeled back the curtain on her time spent amongst the departed, including recounting the most chilling demise she's ever encountered. Her 2014 memoir, 'Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner', lays bare the grim realities of urban demise and delves into the profound theme of mortality through her professional lens. In a candid chat with the New York Post, Dr Melinek recalled how her chief resident once told that NYC was brimming with 'all kinds of great ways to die'. This offhand remark turned out to be a prophetic guidepost for her career, as she now considers herself well-versed in the myriad ways one can shuffle off this mortal coil, reports the Mirror US. "The worst nightmares I ever had in my two years at OCME (Office of Chief Medical Examiner) came after I performed the postmortem examination of Sean Doyle," she confessed. Dr Melinek recounts the chilling tale of Doyle, a bartender in New York City who had been out for drinks with his mate Michael Wright and Wright's girlfriend on a fateful night in 2002. It's thought that Wright became convinced Doyle was making advances towards his girlfriend, leading to a heated argument between the two. The precise sequence of events that followed remains murky, but what is known is that Doyle ended up at the bottom of an open manhole. Doyle plummeted approximately 18 feet into the gaping hole, landing in a pool of scalding water gushing from a ruptured main. Astonishingly, he survived the fall without breaking any bones - but this proved to be a cruel twist of fate due to the blistering hot water below. His demise was far more horrific as emergency services were unable to extract him from the tunnel in time due to the extreme heat. After crying out for help, Doyle tragically succumbed, essentially being boiled alive as temperatures soared to a searing 148°C. Dr Melinek described the deceased man as appearing as though he'd 'been steamed like a lobster'. His skin had entirely peeled off, and his internal organs were cooked through. The medical examiner confessed that this was the case that haunted her the most, unsurprisingly giving her the 'worst nightmares' of her career to date.
CBS News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Former Maryland medical examiner misclassified police in-custody deaths that were homicides, audit finds
An independent review has uncovered widespread misclassifications of deaths involving people in police custody in Maryland, with racial implications. The 70-page audit of Maryland's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), announced Thursday by Attorney General Anthony Brown and Gov. Wes Moore, reviewed 87 cases. Outside reviewers disagreed with the then-Chief Medical Examiner Dr. David Fowler's original determination of the manner of death in more than half of those cases. The review found that dozens of cases involving in-custody police deaths should have been ruled homicides. "The findings of this audit are deeply concerning," Moore said. Audit reveals inconsistencies, racial disparities The report flagged serious inconsistencies in how deaths were categorized. Reviewers found that 36 cases initially labeled as undetermined, accidental, or natural should have been classified as homicides. The audit also pointed to patterns that suggest racial disparities, according to Brown. Deaths involving Black individuals or those involving police restraint were significantly less likely to be classified as homicides. Out of 87 cases reviewed, independent experts disagreed with the original conclusions in 44, Brown said. "These findings highlight the need for real reform," Attorney General Brown said. "Marylanders deserve a system rooted in fairness, transparency, and accountability." In addition, the audit revealed that reports on many cases lacked full incident details, such as missing body cam footage or photographs. It also showed inconsistencies in documenting injuries linked to police restraints. Baltimore man who died in police custody named in audit Tyrone West died while in the custody of Baltimore police in 2013. For years, his sister Tawanda Jones has proclaimed her brother did not die of natural causes, as initially reported. West's death was mentioned in the audit. "I still have never changed the truth," Jones said. "Always said my brother was brutally murdered." For 12 years, Jones has spoken publicly about her brother's death. At 44 years old, he was arrested in Northwest Baltimore after fleeing a traffic stop, and he died while in police custody. "It's always been, when are they going to know it, when are they going to expose it?" Jones said. West's cause of death was listed as natural causes, but his sister argued it was homicide. "The coverup was far worse than my brother's execution, and my brother's execution was horrible, being pepper-sprayed, tased, kicked, stomped, tortured, and you want to come back and say he died of a bad heart," Jones said. Jones says she's not going to rest until there's accountability. "I've been standing 10 toes down on truth, but I'm not going to be completely happy until we get a thorough investigation into my brother's murder," Jones said. Moore supports further investigations In response to the audit, Gov. Moore signed an executive order creating the Maryland Task Force on In-Custody Restraint-Related Death Investigations. The group includes government officials, forensic experts, legal professionals, law enforcement, and community advocates. The task force is responsible for improving how these deaths are investigated, recommending oversight processes for future cases, and suggesting changes to training and collaboration with mental health and substance use professionals. The task force will also consider whether further audits are needed. "This executive order takes us one step closer to a more just and transparent system and was crafted with the same values that have guided our approach to public safety since Day One - true partnership with both law enforcement and the communities they protect; a close, objective examination of the facts; and an abiding commitment to making Maryland safer and uplifting the brave public servants who keep us safe," said Gov. Moore. The executive order also requires the Department of Health and the OCME to share a report on their progress in implementing recommended changes. Autopsy concerns raised in 2022 In 2022, WJZ reported that 100 death investigations involving physical restraint were recommended for review after an audit of the state medical examiner's office. The audit was carried out by a team that was tasked with reviewing former Chief Medical Examiner Dr. David Fowler's cases after he testified that Minnesota Police Officer Derek Chauvin did not kill George Floyd. The case gained national attention in 2020 and sparked protests across the world, some of which turned violent. Fowler was Maryland's chief medical examiner between 2002 and 2019. The audit analyzed whether Fowler's cases were adequately investigated, if best practices were used, and if reviewers agreed with the manner of death that was determined. "It appears OCME undercounted restraint-related homicides during the audit's time frame," Dr. Jeff Kukucka, who managed the audit. "We also found that they undercounted homicides even more in cases where the decedent was black or was restrained by police." Attorney General Brown said these findings speak to systemic issues across our justice system. "We recognize both the gravity of these findings for affected families and communities, and the importance of surrounding law enforcement or supporting law enforcement officers who navigate difficult situations," Brown said.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Medical examiner audit reclassifies dozens of police-restraint deaths as homicides
Jeff Kukucka, a Towson University psychology professor, led a team that reviewed 1,300 cases handed by former Chief Medical Examiner Dr. David Fowler. He announced the findings Thursday with Attorney General Anthony Brown (left) and Gov. Wes Moore. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) Dozens of police-custody deaths that were ruled accidental or of unknown causes have been reclassified as homicides after a four-year review of more than 1,300 cases handled by former Maryland State Medical Examiner Dr. David Fowler. The results of that review, announced Thursday, also highlighted potential racial and pro-police biases in the medical examiner's office at the time that may have contributed to the mischaracterizations. The audit, led by Towson University psychology professor Jeff Kukucka, looked at roughly 1,300 in-custody deaths between 2003 and 2019 — a period corresponding with Fowler's time leading the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). Attorney General Anthony Brown (D), who announced the findings with Kukucka and Gov. Wes Moore (D), said the report raises 'profound concerns, and they are well founded in the audit.' 'The audit report's findings reveal significant discrepancies that demand our attention and response,' Brown said. 'Our research has determined that OCME was especially unlikely to classify death as a homicide if the decedent was Black or if they died after being restrained by police,' Brown said. 'These findings have profound implications across our justice system. They speak to systemic issues rather than individual conduct.' The audit, released Thursday afternoon, will be presented Friday to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. 'The findings of this audit are deeply concerning.,' Moore said. 'It's going to take time to digest a report prepared over the course of four years and two different administrations. 'But if there's one takeaway that we've already drawn at this very early stage is this: We have to make sure we are continuing to make Maryland a model for public safety and transparency and equal justice under the law, and one is not more important than the other,' he said. Moore said the audit is the first of its kind in the nation, and should set 'the standard for what this type of investigation can, and what this type of investigation should, look like' in other states. 'Blazing new trails is never easy,' Kukucka said, 'but someone has to lead the way, and we believe that Maryland can and will be that leader in terms of strengthening death investigations across the country. 'We hope that our rigorous audit procedure will provide a blueprint for other states to conduct similar audits, and that implementing our recommendations will establish Maryland's OCME as a gold standard to which other agencies can aspire,' he said. The audit released by the Office of the Attorney General included the names of 41 people who died soon after being restrained by police. The majority included an 'undetermined' cause of death ruling. As a result of the audit, all 41 are reclassified as homicides. Shawn Floyd, 2018, Anne Arundel County Gregory Williams, 2003, Baltimore City Shawn Bryant, 2004, Baltimore City Rodney Wilson, 2005, Baltimore City Dondi Johnson, 2005, Baltimore City William Washington, 2006, Baltimore City Carlos Branch, 2007, Baltimore City Thomas Campbell, 2007, Baltimore City Eric Dorsey, 2001, Baltimore City Jontae Daughtry, 2011, Baltimore City Tyrone West, 2013, Baltimore City Ricky Artis, 2014, Baltimore City George King, 2014, Baltimore City Antonio Moreno, 2014, Baltimore City Thomas Rawls, 2006, Baltimore County Ryan Meyers, 2007, Baltimore County Carl Johnson, 2010, Baltimore County Mary Croker, 2010, Baltimore County Tawon Boyd, 2016, Baltimore County Dominic Edwards, 2018, Carroll Jarrel Gray, 2007, Frederick Anthony Casarella, 2007, Frederick Terrance Watts, 2018, Frederick David Matarazzo, 2007, Harford George Barnes, 2007, Montgomery Kareem Ali, 2010, Montgomery Delric East, 2011, Montgomery Anthony Howard, 2013, Montgomery Ricardo Manning, 2019, Montgomery Cedric Gilmore, 2004, Prince George's James Jackson, 2003, Prince George's Marcus Skinner, 2007, Prince George's Alexis Caston, 2007, Prince George's Deontre Dorsey, 2015, Prince George's Anton Black. 2018, Talbot Theodore Rosenberry, 2006, Washington James Adell, 2013, Washington Darrell Brown, 2015, Washington Ronald Byler, 2005, Wicomico Yekuna McDonald, 2012, Wicomico The review began in 2021, sparked by an outcry over Fowler's testimony in the trial of Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murder in the 2020 death of George Floyd during an arrest. As part of that arrest, Chauvin knelt for up to nine minutes on the neck of Floyd, who said repeatedly that he could not breathe. Fowler, who resigned as the chief medical examiner in 2019, was called as an expert witness for Chauvin. He testified that Floyd's death was caused by 'excited delirium,' rather than police actions. Excited delirium was a catchall term used to describe aggressive behaviors related to mental health or substance abuse issues. It has been disavowed by the American Medical Association and the National Association of Medical Examiners. Fowler came under fire for his testimony in the highly publicized case. The audit was triggered by a 2021 letter from 450 medical experts, who called on Maryland officials to investigate deaths in police custody and practices in the medical examiner's office under Fowler. 'These members of the medical community were concerned that our state's death determination has been tainted by racial or pro law enforcement bias, or were otherwise inconsistent with the standard practices for investigating and certifying in custody deaths,' Brown said. Among the report's findings: Excited delirium or the synonymous agitated delirium was cited in the death statements made by Fowler's office in 42 of the more than 80 in-custody deaths that came shortly after an episode of police restraint. Researchers reviewing the initial 1,300 in-custody deaths focused on 84 cases of individuals who died soon after being restrained by police. Those cases were reviewed by 12 forensic pathologists, randomly divided into three-member panels. Sensitive and identifying information about the dead, including race, was redacted from reports reviewed by the teams. In all, the teams disagreed with 41 cause-of-death determinations issued by Fowler's office. In 36 of those cases, all three panel members determined the cause of death to be homicide; in the remaining five, two of the three experts called the death a homicide. In 34 of those cases, the medical examiner's office reported that the cause and manner of death was undetermined. Five were ruled accidental and another two were ruled death by natural causes. 'Those discrepancies suggest that OCME practices during the audits time frame were out of step with national standards for death certification, namely the 'but for' standard, which states that any death resulting from the actions of another person, regardless of that person's intent, should be classified as a homicide,' Kukucka said. 'As a result, it appears that OCME undercounted restraint-related homicides during the audit time frame,' he said. 'We also found that they undercounted homicides even more in cases where the decedent was Black or was restrained by police, which raises the possibility of racial and pro-police bias.' Those deaths have now been reclassified as homicides. Of the 41 cases, 14 occurred in Baltimore City and five each were in Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Officials cautioned that the reclassifications do not equal a finding of criminal activity or culpability. Instead, it means that the deaths occurred as the result of the action of another person. 'There's no suggestion that anyone is currently culpable, but it's our responsibility to go through these files, beyond the OCME report, beyond the medical and the original forensic examination, look at the entire file, which means engaging law enforcement as well to make determination,' Brown said. Kukucka stressed the report comes with two caveats. First, the review is retrospective, looking at a specific period of time. The most recent case reviewed is six years old. Kukucka said that 'makes it impossible to know whether racial or pro-police biases truly affected OCME determinations. Those disparities could instead reflect factors other than bias.' And he repeated Brown's caution that the findings do not imply criminal wrongdoing or liability. In addition to the release of the report and broader review of the deaths at the county level, officials announced a series of reforms meant to improve death investigations within the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Moore, prior to the release of the report, signed an executive order directing Brown's office to work with state's attorneys to review each case. Those reviews could potentially lead to reopening investigations. Moore also ordered the Maryland Department of Health to work with the medical examiner's office to implement best-practice investigation policies. The department is ordered to report on its progress by Dec. 31, 2026. Finally, Moore's order creates a new task force to work on policies to reduce in-custody police restraint deaths. That panel will include health and legal experts, law enforcement and community members 'Maryland was the first state in the nation to launch a comprehensive audit on the office of chief medical examiner, and today, we are proud that we'll also become the first state in the nation to respond to such an audit with swift and targeted action,' Moore said. 'I hope that our work will inspire others around the country to take similar steps as we work together to strengthen our system of justice,' he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Audit finds Maryland medical examiner misclassified homicide deaths, prompting executive order to improve transparency
An independent review of Maryland's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) uncovered major issues with how certain deaths were classified, the attorney general's office said Thursday. At a Thursday press conference, Gov. Wes Moore and Attorney General Anthony Brown shared the findings of a 70-page audit, which showed that outside reviewers disagreed with the OCME's original determination of the manner of death in over half of the cases they examined. Audit reveals inconsistencies, racial disparities, in death reports The report flagged serious inconsistencies in how deaths - especially those involving police restraint, were categorized. Reviewers found that 36 cases initially labeled as undetermined, accidental, or natural should have been ruled as homicides. The audit also pointed to patterns suggesting racial disparities in these classifications and criticized the continued use of outdated and discredited terms like "excited delirium." Out of 87 cases reviewed, independent experts disagreed with the original conclusions in 44, the AG said. In 36 of those, all three experts agreed the death should have been classified as a homicide. Five additional cases had two out of three reviewers reach the same conclusion. "These findings highlight the need for real reform," Attorney General Brown said. "Marylanders deserve a system rooted in fairness, transparency, and accountability." The audit also revealed systemic problems in how autopsies were documented. Many cases lacked full incident details—such as missing body cam footage or photographs—and there were inconsistencies in documenting injuries linked to police restraints. One particularly troubling finding: deaths involving Black individuals or those involving police restraint were significantly less likely to be classified as homicides. Governor responds with executive order In response, Gov. Moore signed an executive order creating the Maryland Task Force on In-Custody Restraint-Related Death Investigations. The group includes a range of stakeholders—government officials, forensic experts, legal professionals, law enforcement, and community advocates. Their mission: improve how these deaths are investigated, recommend oversight processes for future cases, and suggest changes to training and collaboration with mental health and substance use professionals. The task force will also consider whether further audits are needed.
