Forensic pathologist: Peggy Pierre died of multiple stab wounds; manner ruled homicide

A forensic pathologist told jurors that the cause of death in the case of Peggy Pierre was sharp-force injuries and that the manner of death is homicide.

Dr. Erin Carney, a forensic pathologist who reviewed the autopsy performed by Dr. William McClain, testified that a stab wound to the side of Pierre’s neck entered the left internal jugular vein and traversed the spine between the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae, injuring the spinal cord. “The cause of death is stab wounds,” Carney said. “The manner of death is homicide.”

Carney described multiple wounds: a deep stab on the left side of the neck that tracked inward several inches, a deep stab on the back/shoulder stopping at the scapula, smaller cutting wounds at the base of the neck and face, and defensive injuries on Pierre’s hands. Photographs taken at the autopsy showing the wounds, clothing defects and identifying tags were admitted as State’s exhibits 31–50; the autopsy report was admitted as State’s exhibit 12. Carney identified the case number assigned by the medical examiner as 23-0958BNT.

The doctor told the jury the major neck wound injured the muscle that runs from behind the ear down toward the collarbone, entered and cut the left internal jugular vein, and penetrated the spinal canal. “She’s bleeding from her jugular vein, and then her spinal cord is also injured,” she said, explaining that such an injury is unlikely to be survivable and that bleeding and spinal cord damage together would rapidly prevent meaningful recovery. Carney also pointed to wounds to the hands and fingers as consistent with defensive actions to block a blade.

Carney described the postmortem condition of the body — early skin sloughing consistent with decomposition — and said the body had been received in a state reflecting some decomposition when it arrived for autopsy. She described standard autopsy steps, the unique identifying number that follows the body and the routine collection of fingernail clippings and blood cards for DNA testing.

The judge admitted the autopsy report and the selected autopsy photographs over defense counsel’s earlier evidentiary objections. The court said foundation for the pathologist and the chain of custody had been laid and allowed the testimony and photographs for the jury’s consideration.

The autopsy testimony concluded after direct and cross-examination, and the pathologist was excused subject to the court’s sequestration rule.