Adriana Younge drowning: No signs of trauma – US Medical Examiner in 2nd autopsy 

…says body lost forensic value, compromised
…commends pathologists of 1st autopsy

The US, Gwinnet County, Georgia Medical Examiner Carol A Terry, MD, who conducted the second autopsy on the body of 11-year-old Adriana Younge at the behest of the family, has confirmed there is no sign of trauma on the body, echoing the findings of the first autopsy, which was conducted in Guyana by three internationally-renowned pathologists on April 28.
In addition, the US Medical Examiner commended the first autopsy as being conducted thoroughly and competently.
She did say too that the body at this point, with a second autopsy, had lost forensic value and was compromised. This, she noted, was a result of issues of decomposition and embalming that introduced “artifacts”.
Notwithstanding this however, she reiterated that the first autopsy was competently carried out.
This latest development comes after the final first post-mortem report prepared by the team of internationally-recognised pathologists, confirmed that 11-year-old Adriana died from drowning, with no signs of foul play or physical assault.
On Monday last, the body of Adriana arrived in the US for the second autopsy, after her remains were flown out of Georgetown via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
The family has sought the second autopsy after rejecting the findings of the three internationally- recognised pathologists – one of whom they themselves had requested and the Government of Guyana flew in at their request.
Adriana, who was last seen by her grandmother around 13:01h on April 23 in the hotel’s swimming pool, was found dead in the same pool the following morning. Her disappearance and delayed recovery led her family to question the circumstances of her death, raising concerns that she might have been lured, assaulted, drowned elsewhere, and placed back in the pool.
However, the comprehensive autopsy report dismissed those claims, concluding that Adriana drowned and subsequently sank to the bottom of the pool, as is common in warm freshwater environments.
“Drowning in fresh water in a tropical climate with relatively warm temperatures, such as seen in a swimming pool in the Caribbean, usually results in decedents initially sinking to the bottom of the pool. The sinking is usually faster in thin individuals with low body fat when compared to individuals who are obese. A few hours after death has occurred in a submerged body, putrefaction will begin, which will result in the accumulation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract and soft tissues. This accumulation of gas will then cause a decedent to slowly rise to the top of the water and float. The rate of putrefaction and gas formation will depend on factors such as the water temperature and size of the decedent. The warmer the temperature and larger the individual, the faster putrefaction will occur and, as a result, the sooner the body will begin to rise from the bottom and float,” the report stated.
Toxicology results detected ethanol, but this was attributed to natural postmortem decomposition rather than alcohol ingestion. DNA analysis and sexual assault kit tests returned negative for any signs of criminal activity.
Due to the passage of time and lack of corroborative evidence, experts were unable to determine Adriana’s exact time of death, though all findings support the account of a drowning incident followed by delayed surfacing due to putrefaction.
Pathologists concluded that “there is no physical evidence on the postmortem examination to indicate that she was physically removed from the pool, harmed in any way, and subsequently placed back in the pool after she was deceased”.

Public terror
What began as calls for justice in April escalated into chaos as protest actions were hijacked by criminal elements, who ignited roadways, looted businesses, and terrorised communities across Georgetown; East Bank Demerara (EBD); West Bank Demerara (WBD); East Coast Demerara (ECD); Berbice and other areas.
Following swift Police operations and nationwide arrests, dozens of accused individuals have appeared before various Magistrates, including Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore, to face indictable charges of terrorism under the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.
According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), over 100 persons have been arrested in relation to the unrest, and more individuals are likely to be charged in the coming days.