The jury in 22-year old Marissa Shephard’s trial for first degree murder and arson heard testimony from the pathologist who performed the autopsy on Baylee Wylie.
Dr. Ather Naseemuddin testified about the more than 140 sharp force injuries he found on Wylie’s body – including 14 on the head, 46 on the neck, and 41 on the chest and abdomen.
Of those, he states the rapidly fatal injuries were those on the carotid artery, the heart, and a wound that collapsed a lung.
Dr. Naseemuddin testified any one of those injuries could have been fatal on its own.
He adds while about 15% of the victim’s body was burned, the lack of soot in the trachea suggests Wylie was no longer breathing before the fire was started.
Dr. Naseemuddin says significant bruising in the upper left arm suggests Wylie was restrained, adding he couldn’t see how a young adult sustaining that many injuries could not have been held down in some way.
