ExpectingUnicorns
. . . only the pure of heart can see.
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See this is what is confusing me so much. If the tape were applied to the skin and hair and the decomposition took place how does it still hold bones in place. I can see it sticking to hair as thats pretty simple. But I just dont see it stuck on the skin and then skin goes away and it sticks to the bones enough to hold them in place. Maybe she was taped in the early stages of decomp, with some bone exposed to adhere the tape to, after someone saw her mouth hanging open. I'm really trying I even read the report again but it does not really explain how tape lost the surface it was stuck to and then attached itself to a bone to hold it in place. If I wrapped a gift in paper and the paper dissolved the tape surely would not adhere itself to the gift under the paper. Dont yell I'm trying really....I know the report does not say the tape was stuck to the bones but how would it hold a bone in place if it was not.
I don't find anywhere that Dr G says the tape was stuck to any bones. She only says it was adhered to the hair (info in parentheses are mine):
"The mat of hair which was initially found beneath the skull with strands of hair extending across the calvarium (skullcap or roof of skull) and face consists of medium brown hair. Some strands of hair could be teased from the mat and were at least 6 to 7 inches in length. There were various small defects within this mat of hair, presumably from insect activity, and there are multiple small roots growing through the mat of hair. . . ."
"The calvarium (skullcap) is totally exposed and there is only a very small adherent of soil and leaf litter. No soft tissue remains. Multiple strands of medium brown straight hair extend over the calvarium (skullcap) in the sagittal (vertical plane passing through the body from front to back) and coronal (vertical plane that divides the body into front and back) planes. They are attached to a nest-like mass of matted hair which covers the basilar (base) and lower posterior (back or rear portion) skull, including inferior (below or bottom) portions of the mandible (lower jaw). Plant roots have grown into and over the surface of the hair mat. Attached to the hair and overlying the posterior (back) mandible (lower jaw) and maxilla (upper jaw) are several pieces of overlapping gray tape. The tape has an open weave fabric backing and is delaminating (splitting into layers). The tape is removed and allowed to dry. The matted hair is removed from the skull. Plant roots permeate the mat and there are multiple small roughly circular, irregular defects in the mat, suggestive of insect predation artifact. The hair is permitted to dry pending additional examination. Preliminary examination of the skull reveals no evidence of trauma."
This describes, to me, a complete tangle of duct tape and matted hair that is interwoven with plant roots covering a great portion of the skull ~ mostly the bottom. It sounds like the matted hair was so entangled with the jaws that it helped keep both the tape and lower jaw in place. But maybe this helps give us a better idea of where and how the duct tape came to be still attached?
(On page 11 of the autopsy report we read that pictures and x-rays have been taken of the skull. These will sadly explain it all at trial, I'm sure.)