NAMES
Albert Siu, M.D., Fresno County Coroner Forensic Pathologist
Performed
first autopsy on February 12, 2000, at 9:45 a.m
May
2000 - Preliminary Autopsy Report reveals no cause of death.
Internal Examination reveals no cause of death.
Microscopic sections of all systems reveal no cause of death.
A. Dr. Siu retrieves additional tissues and studies them microscopically, but they show no anatomic cause of death.
Performed second autopsy on June 3, 2000
Authors Final Autopsy Report concluding that acute selenium toxicity caused Linda’s death and the manner of death is Homicide.
Calls for an investigation into how Linda was exposed to selenium.
Venu Gopal, M.D. Chief Forensic Pathologist, Fresno County.
Agrees with Dr. Siu’s conclusion and the need for an investigation into Linda’s death.
Nellis A. Smith, Cardiologist. Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiac Arrhythmias Medical Group.
Concludes that Linda did not suffer a primary cardiac event, such as a heart attack. Further, he opines that Linda's presentation suggests a generalized systemic disorder. One year later Selenium is found to be the manner of death.
Steven H. Chooljian, M.D. internal Medicine, (Linda's family physician) Arranged marriage counseling for Linda and her husband. Opines that Linda was in excellent health at the time of her death and that Linda had no cardiac risk factors. Was in attendance at the autopsy. Shortly after Linda's death, Dr. Chooljian called Chief Forensic Pathologist for Fresno County Coroner's office, Dr. Gopal, to request testing for poisons.
Eric Pfeifer, M.D. Mayo Clinic Forensic Pathologist. Coroner’s Chief Forensic Pathologist for Olmstead County, MN.
Participated in second autopsy on June 3, 2000 and tested specimen harvested from second autopsy at the Mayo Clinic Medical Laboratories - discovered that acute selenium poisoning caused Linda's death.
Asked the Fresno DA to start a criminal investigation into Linda's death.
Stephen
Avalos,
M.D. Forensic Pathologist,
hired by Mr. Adanalian
Participated in 2nd autopsy (Did not issue a report)
Henry Spiller, ABFT, DABAT, Toxicologist and Director of a Regional Poison facility who concluded that Linda died from acute selenium toxicity.
John H. Trestrail, III, RPh, FAACT, DABAT, Toxicologist and Bernard H. Eisenga, PhD, MD, ABIM, Toxicologist. Toxicology Consulting PLLC, Michigan Poison Control Center. 1. March 23, 2001, Opines that Linda Adanalian death certificate should say at the least “death from Selenium poisoning of unknown cause”.
2. Wrote letter to the Fresno District Attorney, Mr. Hunt, requesting an immediate investigation into Linda’s death.
James E. Cisek, MD, FACMT, Toxicologist. Medical Director Virginia Poison Center. April 12, 2001, opines that “Based on markedly elevated selenium levels and the available medical literature, it is my opinion that this patient’s death was due to acute selenium toxicity.”
George F. Jackson Ph.D. , DABFT Forensic Toxicologist. National Medical Services, Inc. concludes that Linda died from acute selenium toxicity.
R. Brent Furbee, MD, FACMT Toxicologist. Medical Director of Indiana Medical Center opined in his June 2001 report that selenium poisoning is the most likely cause of death.
Cyril H. Wecht, M.D. , J.D. Forensic Pathologist. Coroner Allegheny County, PA. In an August 30, 2001, letter he states “It is my opinion that this case requires a law enforcement investigation. In fact, an investigation was warranted at the time of the exhumation.”
Joseph I. Cohen, M.D. Forensic Pathologist. Concludes "“Based on my review of the documents, I concur with the county pathologist’s final cause of death determination: “Acute Selenium Toxicity.”
Alphonse Poklis, Ph.D Forensic Toxicologist. Director MCVH Toxicology Lab. On September 10, 2001, Concludes “it is my opinion that the death of Mrs. Adanalian is consistent with acute selenium toxicity.”
Yale H. Caplan, Ph.D. DABFT, Forensic Toxicologist. National Scientific Services. The Countries leading forensic toxicologist disagrees with the opinions of Dr. Schrauzer (nutritionist), Dr. Nuttal (lab consultant), and Dr. Burke (gastroenterologist) and concludes in his July 16, 2001 report that Linda died from acute selenium toxicity .
Richard F. Clark, M.D. Toxicologist. Director, Division of Medical Toxicology. California Poison Control System. On May 4, 2001, concludes that “selenium poisoning should be added to the list of potential etiologies for the cause of death in this case.”
David M. Hadden, M.D. Fresno County Coroner September 14, 2001, “This may very well be Fresno’s first case of Selenium poisoning, but I would like a greater degree of certainty. If this is selenium toxicity, we have no indication whatsoever as to root of administration. Therefore, the manner of death is also unknown.”
Gerald Berry, M.D. Cardiac Pathologist, Stanford Pathology Consultants, Stanford University Medical Center. Examined Linda’s heart and found no cardiac explanation for her death, stating in his September 12, 2000 report,, “We are unable to provide a morphologic explanation for this patients sudden death experience.”
Allen P. Burke, M.D., Cardiac Pathologist, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Examined Linda’s heart, but could find no causal connection between her heart and her death.
Warren Paboojian, Attorney. formerly with Marderosian, Oren, and Paboojian. One of Mr. Adanalian's attorneys. Dan Bacon, Criminal Defense Attorney, represented Mr. Adanalian at the exhumation hearing.
Allan Melikian, Attorney. Dalition family attorney.
Loralee Cervantes, County Coroner. Determined that Linda died from acute selenium toxicity and amended Linda's death certificate to reflect this. Stated that the social and family circumstances surrounding Linda's death were compelling.