Media Release

For Immediate Release
Date: November 15, 2006

Medical Examiner Amends Cause of 1964 Death from Suicide to Homicide
Second Autopsy Identified Previously Overlooked Gunshot Wound to Head

The Rhode Island Office of State Medical Examiners (OSME) reports that the cause of death of Louis James DeFusco, a 38 year-old man, formerly of Cranston, has been amended from suicide-by-drowning to homicide- by-gunshot wound of head with perforation of spine. This change is based on findings from a second autopsy conducted by OSME following exhumation of Mr. DeFusco's remains this past summer.

Mr. DeFusco disappeared on August 6, 1964, and his body was recovered 12 days later floating in the waters of Narragansett Bay. Investigation with autopsy at that time led to the conclusion of suicidal drowning.

On May 16, 2006 the decedent's family contacted OSME regarding lingering concerns about the circumstances of Mr. DeFusco's death. The family was planning to move the decedent's remains to an alternate family burial plot, and asked OSME if a second examination of Mr. DeFusco would be possible.

A second autopsy was conducted at OSME and the medical examiner identified a previously overlooked gunshot wound to the back of the head. The original autopsy in 1964 had identified a bullet in the decedent's mouth (consistent with the wound path identified at second autopsy), but failed to observe the gunshot at the back of the head and only documented non-lethal injuries to the teeth.

Death was erroneously attributed to suicidal drowning as the decedent had originally been found with a ship's anchor tied around his legs and the gunshot wound was incorrectly interpreted at that time as non-fatal. The second autopsy thoroughly tracked the decedent's gunshot injury and demonstrated its fatal nature. Based on these findings, the cause of death is attributed to the gunshot wound and the manner of death is amended to homicide.

Thomas Gilson, MD
Chief Medical Examiner