Dr. Kohr’s Full Autopsy Findings
Dr. Roland Kohr’s testimony on October 24, 2024, provided critical forensic insights into the deaths of Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German in the 2017 Delphi murders. As the pathologist who conducted the autopsies, Dr. Kohr detailed the injuries, estimated times of death, and other observations that shaped the prosecution’s narrative against Richard Allen. His findings - while thorough - reveal ambiguities and a controversial revision that raise questions about their interpretation and use in securing Richard Allen’s conviction. This page organizes the factual details of Dr. Kohr’s testimony, offering a comprehensive look at the autopsy results and their implications in the fight for justice.
Autopsy Findings for Abby Williams
Profile and Condition
- Measurements: Abby was approximately 64 inches tall and weighed around 95 pounds.
- Clothing: She wore a black hoodie, blue jeans, a gray sports bra, a black bra, and a pink camisole.
External Examination
- Neck Wound: A single incision across the neck, about 5 cm (2 inches) long, with significant gaping (2 to 2.5 inches wide) due to muscle fiber retraction.
- Facial Marks: Very faint linear marks on her chin suggested possible contact with cloth or duct tape, but no adhesive residue was found. Dr. Kohr concluded her mouth was likely not covered.
- Lip Abrasion: A minor abrasion on her lips was noted, with no explanation for its cause.
- Blood Smears: Smears on her right arm indicated possible clothing movement before death.
- Lividity: Evidence of lividity on her back suggested she lay on her back for several hours, potentially on debris, before being moved.
- Other Injuries: No defensive wounds or blunt force trauma were observed.
Internal Examination
- Jugular Injury: A partial transection of the left jugular vein was identified.
- Sexual Trauma: No injuries indicated traumatic sexual contact, though Dr. Kohr noted this did not definitively rule out sexual activity.
Sexual Assault Kit
- Collection: Included blood samples, swabs, and multiple hairs of unknown source found on the body.
- Fingernail Scrapings: Not possible due to Abby’s severely short nails from biting.
Cause of Death
- Inferred to be exsanguination (blood loss) from the neck wound, though contributing factors were not specified.
Estimated Time of Death
- Consistent with death occurring 40–41 hours before the autopsy (conducted February 15, 2017), but Dr. Kohr noted this could align with other time ranges, highlighting the challenge of precision.
Additional Notes
- Dr. Kohr emphasized the role of autonomic nervous system responses and shock, prioritizing blood flow to vital organs, which could affect the body’s appearance post-mortem.
Autopsy Findings for Liberty German
Profile and Condition
- Measurements: Libby was approximately 64 inches tall and weighed around 200 pounds.
External Examination
- Throat Wounds: Multiple incisions, with at least four distinct cuts and possibly a fifth:
- Two cuts in an “X” pattern on the far right.
- A left-side wound with scalloped edges, initially attributed to a serrated knife.
- A central wound with a possible second pass.
- Most wounds were vertically oriented.
- Other Injuries: A small, superficial 1 cm incision below the left shoulder (not officially measured), small abrasions below the throat, and an abrasion between the left and central neck wounds.
- Hands: Bagged at an unspecified point before arriving at the morgue, likely to preserve evidence.
- Blood Evidence: Blood on Libby’s hands suggested she attempted to cover her wounds to slow bleeding.
- Other Observations: No defensive wounds or restraint marks were noted.
Internal Examination
- Artery and Vein Damage: Partial transection of the left carotid artery, full transection of the right carotid artery, and full transection of the right jugular vein.
- Cerebral Edema: Mild cerebral edema indicated death was not instantaneous, taking minutes to develop.
- Sexual Trauma: No trauma to sex organs was observed, and no opinion was provided on sexual activity prior to death.
Sexual Assault Kit
- Collection: Included standard components and miscellaneous thigh swabs, though their origin and timing were unclear.
Cause of Death
- Inferred to be exsanguination from the neck wounds, with death likely occurring within 5–10 minutes due to severe arterial damage.
Estimated Time of Death
- Dr. Kohr estimated death took place rapidly, closer to 5 minutes, given the extent of vascular injuries.
Additional Notes
- The presence of blood on Libby’s hands and mild cerebral edema suggested she remained conscious briefly, attempting to stem blood loss, adding a tragic dimension to her final moments.
General Forensic Observations
Dr. Kohr’s overarching conclusions provide context but also highlight limitations:
- Time of Death Challenges: Precise determination was difficult for both victims, with Abby’s estimate broader (40–41 hours) and Libby’s tied to rapid blood loss (5–10 minutes).
- Sharp Force Trauma: Both girls’ injuries were consistent with sharp force trauma, confirming a bladed weapon as the cause.
- Weapon Identification: Initially, Dr. Kohr concluded a serrated knife likely caused the wounds, particularly Libby’s scalloped marks. In 2024, after contact with the prosecutor and without a supplemental investigation, he revised this to suggest a box cutter or a weapon with a patterned hilt, a change the defense criticized as potentially influenced and lacking rigor.
- Single Weapon Possibility: Dr. Kohr noted one knife could have caused all wounds across both victims, though he could not definitively identify the weapon.
Analysis: Ambiguities and Controversies
Dr. Kohr’s findings are a source of reasonable doubt in Richard Allen’s case. They establish the brutal nature of the murders - sharp force trauma leading to exsanguination - but offer no direct link to Allen, as no DNA, fingerprints, or trace evidence tied him to the victims. The lack of defensive wounds or restraint marks suggests a swift attack, yet the absence of sexual trauma or conclusive time-of-death estimates weakens the prosecution’s narrative of Allen’s involvement. Most troubling is the revised weapon theory: Dr. Kohr’s shift from a serrated knife to a box cutter, prompted by post-trial prosecutor contact in 2024, raises concerns about impartiality. This late change, unsupported by new forensic analysis, aligns suspiciously with the state’s case, echoing broader defense claims of bias in the trial process.
The autopsy findings also underscore investigative gaps. The unidentified hairs on Abby’s body and unclear provenance of Libby’s thigh swabs highlight potential evidence that was not fully explored, possibly pointing to other suspects. The defense’s broader argument - that the state ignored alternative theories, like the Odinist ritualistic angle - gains traction when considering these forensic ambiguities, as the crime scene’s complexity may not align with Allen as a lone perpetrator.