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ENVIRONM~

TENNEssL

iPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
850 R.S. Gass Blvd., Nashville TN 37216-2640
(615)743.1800
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION BY COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER

MEC 08-1988
State Number: 08-19·1376
DECEDENT: Terry Battle
RACE: Black
SEX: Male
AGE: 55 Years
MARITAL STATUS: Single
HOME ADDRESS: Corrections Corporation of America 5115 Harding Place; Nashville, TN

OCCUPATION:
TYPE OF DEATH:

DATE OF BIRTH: 05104/53

=
=

Apparent NaturallUnattended
Casualty

-= Homicide/Suspected Homicide

=

LJ

Molor Vehicle
Other

Cremation: N

'=J Suddenly when in apparent health

In Prison
' I Suicide
COMMENT: Sudden
AGENCY INVESTIGATOR AND COMPLAINT#: City Police Dept. 08-372092

DESCRIPTION OF BODY: L] Clothed
Eyes: Hair: Mustache: Beard:
Weight: (Lbs.) Length: (In.) Body Temp:
Rigor? Livor Color: Fixed?

0

Unclothed

[

J Partly Clothed

Circumcised?

Marks & Wounds

."
•

_Il=

J

.'

~

,

Probable Cause of Death

Manner of Death
I~ Accident

neumonia

Homidde
Suicide

Disposition Of Case
Natural
Could Not Be Determined
Pending Investigation

~edical Examiner Jurisdiction: Accept8'

~utopsy Ordered: Autopsy
oxicology: Y

~~sponsible for Death Certificate:
Medical Examiner
Other Physician

~remation Approved: N

uneral Home: Lewis and Wright Funer

I hereby declare that after receiving notice of death descnbed herein, I took charge of the body and made Inquiries
regarding the cause of death in accordance with Section 38-7-101-117 Tennessee Code Annotated and that the
information contained herein regarding such death is true and correct to th best of my knowledge
and belief.

Davidson

July 01, 2008
Date

County of Appointment

•

n

Medical Examiner

-.
I

ME Reoort Form for MEC08·198&. _.rv Battle Paae 2
Last Seen
Injury or
Death
Alive
Illness

Discovery

Medical
Examiner

View of Body Police Notified

Notified
ate
Ime

poIU3J2008

""",312008

111:31 AM

p.Jnknown

312008

312008
111:32 AM

UOJU4I2OO8

p1:37 PM

City or County

Location

Type of Premises (hospital,

hotel, highway, etc.)
115 Harding Place
outhem Hills Medical Center
orensic Medical

njury or onset of illness

Death
.ewing of body by Medical

rison
ospital
Center For Forensic Medicine

ashville, TN
ashville
ashville

~xaminer

MEDICAL ATTENTION AND HOSPITAL, INSTITUTIONAL CARE OR HOME HEALTH CARE

Name of Physician or
Institution
pr Steven Turner

Address

Diagnoses

~edical Staff Southern Hills
Medical Center; Nashville, TN

Dates

ransported by EMS CPR in
Prooress 10 ER

00/0312008 • 06/0312008

(35) CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH
Name
ouod Dead By
ast Seen Alive By

Address

pr Steven Turner

~edical Staff Southern Hills Medical
Center, Nashville, TN

~tness to Injury or Illness
fJVilness to Death

pr Steven Turner (Pronounced)

~ledical Staff Southern Hills Medical

~ext of Kin

Ctydine Battle

~~mmy Williams (sister) 248-47().3007 ;

enter, Nashville, TN
ashville, TN
(36) NARRATIVE SUMMARY OF CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING DEATH
Reportedly this 55 ylo blm was found unresponsive by corrections personnel in the floor of a medical segregation cell on
6-3-2006. EMS transported the decedent to Southern Hills Medical Center where despite ACLS efforts death was
pronounced in the ER by Dr Steven Turner at 11:32am on 6-3-2008. The decedent has a medical history of hepatitis C,
hypertension, gastroenteritis and was blind in his right eye. The decedent reportedly saw a doctor 6-2-2008 for diarrhea. No
signs of foul play, overdose, suicide, falls, trauma or signs of drug history were reported. The body was transported by
MTRS to the Center of Forensic Medicine for further investigation. Final disposition arrangements were not known at the
lime of this report.•• See Investigator Note·· Candice M Sexton
Investigator

,

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l

TENNESSEE DEPART ENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
OFFICE OF THE STATE EDICAL EXAMINER
Center to Forensic Medicine
850 R.S. Ga$$ Blvd.
as
Tennessee 37216-2640
CASE: MECQS·1988
County: DAVIDSO
AUTOPSY REPORT
NAMEOF

:

ED~

HO EAOORESS
DATE

SATIlE. TERRY

RACE: B

AGE: 55

CCA, 5115 Harding Place; Nashville, TN

'D TIME OF DEATH:

June 3, 2008 at 11:32 a.m.

DATE AND TIME OF AUTOPSY:

June 4, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.

FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST:

Staci A. Tumer, M.D.

COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER:

Bruce P. Levy, M.D.

ADDRESS:

SEX: M

850 R.S. Gass Blvd., Nashville TN 37216

DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL: Honorable Victor S. Johnson
ADDRESS:

Washington Square, Suite 500, 222 2nd Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

FINAL ANATOMIC DIAGNOSES

1.

Pneumonia:

A.
B.

2.

Fibrinopurulent exudate, right and left visceral pleura.
Diffuse consolidation and purulent exudate, all lobes of both lungs.

Hypertensive cardiovascular disease:
A.
B.

3.

Clinical history of hypertension.
Nephrosclerosis.

Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis.

CAUSE OF DEATH:

Pneumonia

MANNER OF DEATH:

Natural

•

BATTLE, TERRY

MEC08-1988

PAGE 2\4

I hereby certify that I, Staci A. Turner, M.D. have performed an autopsy on the body of Terry Battle
on June 4, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. at the State of Tennessee Center for Forensic Medicine. The
purpose of this report is to provide a certified opinion to the County Medical Examiner and District
Attorney General. The facts and findings to supporl these conclusions are filed with the
Tennessee Department of Health.

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
The body is Identified by an ankle bracelet.

Photographs and fingerprints are taken.

The body is that of a well-developed, well-nourished black man whose appearance is compatible
with the sta ed age of 55 years. His body, when nude, weighs 171 pounds and is 64 inches long.
The body is cool, rigor is fully developed, and the posterior red-purple lividity is fixed. The scalp
hair is black. The irides are brown, and arcus senilis is prominent in the left eye. The right cornea
is diffusely cloudy. Facial hair consists of a mustache and beard. The ears, nose and lips are
normally formed. The teeth are natural; a yellow metal partial cap is on the right first upper incisor.
The neck, chest, and breasts are symmetrical. The abdomen is flat. The external genitalia, anus,
and perineum are unremarkable. The testicles are descended into the scrotum. The extremities
are well developed and symmetrical. The back and buttocks are atraumatic.
IDENTIFYING MARKS AND SCARS: Linear scars are on the forehead, the right side of the
chest, the right side of the abdomen, and the right anterior wrist. Irregular scars are on the left and
right upper arms, the left and right forearms, and the left and right knees and lower legs.
EVIDENCE OF THERAPY: An endotracheal tube is in the mouth. Multiple EKG pads are on the
body. Multiple defibrillator pads are on the body. An intravascular catheter is in the right side of
the neck.
EVIDENCE OF INJURY:

None.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION
BODY CAVITIES:
The thoracic and abdominal organs are in their normal anatomic positions.
The body cavities contain no adhesions or abnormal collections of fluid.
HEAD:
The brain weighs 1350 grams. The scalp and skull are unremarkable. The dura and
dural sinuses are unremarkable. There are no epidural, subdural, or subarachnoid hemorrhages.
The leptomeninges are thin and delicate. The cerebral hemispheres are symmetrical with an
unremarkable 9yral pattern. The cranial nerves and blood vessels are unremarkable.
Sections
through the cerebral hemispheres, brainstem and cerebellum are unremarkable. There are no
hemorrhages in the deep white matter or the basal ganglia. The cerebral ventricles contain no
blood.
NECK:
The soft tissues and prevertebral fascia are unremarkable. The hyoid bone and larynx
are intact.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM:
The heart weighs 380 grams. The intimal surface of the
abdominal aorta is free of atherosclerosis. The aorta and its major branches and the great veins
are normally distributed. The pericardium, epicardium and endocardium are smooth, glistening

•

MEC08-1988

BATTLE, TERRY

(

PAGE 3\4

and unremarkable. There are no thrombi in the atria or ventricles. The foramen ovaIe is closed.
The coronary arterial system is right predominant and free of atherosclerosis. The atrial and
ventricular septa are intact. The cardiac valves are unremarkable. The myocardium is dark redbrown and firm, and there are no focal abnormalities.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
The right lung weighs 1510 grams and the left lung weighs 1040
grams. The upper airway is unobstructed. The laryngeal mucosa is smooth and unremarkable
without petechiae. Yellow-green fibrinopurulent exudate is on the pleural surfaces. The pulmonary
arteries contain no emboli. The major bronchi contain yellow-green froth. Sectioning of the lungs
discloses a dark red, diffusely consolidated parenchyma oozing yellow-green purulent material.
HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM:
The liver weighs 2350 grams and is covered by an intact capsule.
The parenchyma is yellow, diffusely fibrotic, and vaguely micronodular. The gallbladder contains
no calculi. The extrahepatic biliary ducts are unremarkable.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:
The esophageal mucosa is gray, smooth, and unremarkable. The
stomach contains approximately 300 mL. of green and tan solid and liquid. There are no tablets
or capsules. The gastric mucosa has normal rugal folds and there are no ulcers. The small and
large intestines are unremarkable. The appendix is surgically absent. The pancreas is
unremarkable externally and on sectioning.

GENITOURINARY SYSTEM:
The right kidney weighs 160 grams and the left kidney weighs
170 grams. The renal subcapsular sulfaces are granular. The cortices are of normal thickness.
The calyces, pelves and ureters are unremarkable. The urinary bladder contains approximately
190 mL of cloudy yellow urine. The mucosa is gray, smooth and unremarkable.
The prostate gland is unremarkable.

ENDOCRtNE SYSTEM:
upon sectioning.

The thyroid and adrenal glands are unremarkable externally and

RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM:
The spleen weighs 300 grams and is covered by a
smooth, blue-gray, intact capsule. The parenchyma is dark red. The lymph nodes are
unremarkable.
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM:
The clavicles, ribs, sternum, pelvis and vertebral column
have no fractures. The diaphragm is intact.

TOXICOLOGY:

Blood and vitreous are submitted (see separate report).

SUMMARY OF CASE
This 55-year-old black man, with a history of hepatitis C, hypertension, gastroenteritis, and right
eye blindness, reportedly was found unresponsive in his prison cell.
Autopsy reveals severe, bilateral pneumonia, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and hepatic
steatosis and fibrosis .

•

MEC08-1988

SATTLE, TERRY

PAGE 4\4

In my opinion, the cause of death is pneumonia. The manner of death is natural.

~'GkV0'(}
Staci A. Tumer, M.D.

Signature:

Assistant Medical Examiner
SAT/pc

617108

•

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