REPORT OF AUTOPSY, OFFICE OF THE CORONER OF SOLANO COUNTY, MORGAN L. HANNIGAN, CORONER.
Name: David Arthur Faraday
Post mortem at: Colonial Chapels Date: 12/21/68 Time: 1:30pm
Place of death: DOA Vallejo General Hospital Date: 12/21/68 Time: 12:05am
Age: 17 years Sex: Male Color: White Height: 68” Weight: 135#
Wounds: See below on the cranial activity. A small 0.5 inch bruise is noted over the left side of the neck.
Cranial cavity: Head: A bullet wound (3/16” diameter) of entry is seen penetrating the upper slight posterior area of the left ear and entering the scalp and skull bone beneath. The bullet follows a straight horizontal course but angling forward and to the right, going through the left temporal lobe. The base of the frontal lobes in the midline and inferior borders of the left frontal lobe and anterior margins of the left temporal lobe. The irregularly flattened bullet is recovered here. In the dura, without injury to the skull bone. There is no tumors to the brain. Subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhages are present. There are comminuted fractures of both left and right temporal bones and sphenoid bones. Courtesy of Ray Grant.
Name: David Arthur Faraday
Post mortem at: Colonial Chapels Date: 12/21/68 Time: 1:30pm
Place of death: DOA Vallejo General Hospital Date: 12/21/68 Time: 12:05am
Age: 17 years Sex: Male Color: White Height: 68” Weight: 135#
Wounds: See below on the cranial activity. A small 0.5 inch bruise is noted over the left side of the neck.
Cranial cavity: Head: A bullet wound (3/16” diameter) of entry is seen penetrating the upper slight posterior area of the left ear and entering the scalp and skull bone beneath. The bullet follows a straight horizontal course but angling forward and to the right, going through the left temporal lobe. The base of the frontal lobes in the midline and inferior borders of the left frontal lobe and anterior margins of the left temporal lobe. The irregularly flattened bullet is recovered here. In the dura, without injury to the skull bone. There is no tumors to the brain. Subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhages are present. There are comminuted fractures of both left and right temporal bones and sphenoid bones. Courtesy of Ray Grant.
David Arthur Faraday It is noticeable that the 0.5 inch bruise to the left side of David Faraday's neck is consistent with the muzzle of a gun being forcibly pressed into the victim's neck as he was being restrained by the right rear wheel of the Rambler, with David facing away from the Rambler. A killer looking into David's eyes, pressing a gun into the left side of his neck could only have been performed by a right-handed killer. It is not difficult to understand at the moment of the shooting, that the killer shifted the position of the gun behind his left ear flap and pulled the trigger to deliver a devastating head shot to the helpless young man. The entry point of the bullet is not consistent with a left-handed killer standing by the open door of the Rambler with an outstretched left arm (or bent arm). Not only would the gun unlikely be positioned behind the flap of the left ear, but the killer (if alone) would have had his back turned to Betty Lou Jensen (see here)..
After collapsing to the turnout floor, David Faraday's feet were literally touching the right rear tire (and both feet were in line with the bodywork of the vehicle), indicating that the killer was not left-handed and standing behind David Faraday. This could have produced a bullet entry point behind his left ear, but the killer's standing position would have created a buffer zone between David Faraday and the vehicle, preventing his body falling with his feet touching the right rear wheel. Everything points to David Faraday crumpling to the ground where he stood, with his back pressed firmly against the right rear window. The ejected casing from this shot likely landing on the front passenger floorwell of the Rambler (either directly, or via the angled open door).
After collapsing to the turnout floor, David Faraday's feet were literally touching the right rear tire (and both feet were in line with the bodywork of the vehicle), indicating that the killer was not left-handed and standing behind David Faraday. This could have produced a bullet entry point behind his left ear, but the killer's standing position would have created a buffer zone between David Faraday and the vehicle, preventing his body falling with his feet touching the right rear wheel. Everything points to David Faraday crumpling to the ground where he stood, with his back pressed firmly against the right rear window. The ejected casing from this shot likely landing on the front passenger floorwell of the Rambler (either directly, or via the angled open door).
There are comminuted fractures of both left and right temporal bones and sphenoid bones.
A "comminuted fracture of both left and right temporal bones and sphenoid bones" refers to a severe head injury where both the left and right temporal bones, as well as the sphenoid bone at the base of the skull, have fractured into multiple pieces. In other words the bullet, as stated in the autopsy report, followed a straight horizontal course from left to right, angling forward as it went (through the anterior margins of the left temporal lobe). This is consistent with a gun being pressed behind the left ear, horizontally positioned, slightly angled towards the front of David's head. Again, inconsistent with a killer standing to the right side of David Faraday, pointing a gun left-handed towards his head. The entry wound behind the ear flap, and the angle the shot was delivered, would not be natural for a left-handed shooter
A "comminuted fracture of both left and right temporal bones and sphenoid bones" refers to a severe head injury where both the left and right temporal bones, as well as the sphenoid bone at the base of the skull, have fractured into multiple pieces. In other words the bullet, as stated in the autopsy report, followed a straight horizontal course from left to right, angling forward as it went (through the anterior margins of the left temporal lobe). This is consistent with a gun being pressed behind the left ear, horizontally positioned, slightly angled towards the front of David's head. Again, inconsistent with a killer standing to the right side of David Faraday, pointing a gun left-handed towards his head. The entry wound behind the ear flap, and the angle the shot was delivered, would not be natural for a left-handed shooter
The base of the frontal lobes in the midline and inferior borders of the left frontal lobe.
The inferior borders of the left frontal lobe include the lateral sulcus and the orbital sulcus. The lateral sulcus, also known as the Sylvian fissure, is a prominent groove on the brain's surface that separates the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe; while the orbital sulcus is a group of smaller grooves located on the inferior surface of the frontal lobe, specifically within the orbital region, dividing it into several orbital gyri. The horizontal course of the bullet from its entry point suggests that the bullet did not deviate as it passed through any bony structures. Our killer was almost certainly right-handed.
The inferior borders of the left frontal lobe include the lateral sulcus and the orbital sulcus. The lateral sulcus, also known as the Sylvian fissure, is a prominent groove on the brain's surface that separates the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe; while the orbital sulcus is a group of smaller grooves located on the inferior surface of the frontal lobe, specifically within the orbital region, dividing it into several orbital gyri. The horizontal course of the bullet from its entry point suggests that the bullet did not deviate as it passed through any bony structures. Our killer was almost certainly right-handed.
