November 9th, 2009
 

365 Gay: News

Matthew Shepard autopsy records missing


(Cheyenne, Wyoming) An autopsy report for slain gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard is among numerous autopsy records missing from the Albany County coroner’s office, the coroner said.

Coroner Tom Furgeson said he received only a small box of records covering the previous 16 years when he became county coroner in January 2007. He said he only received the records after repeated requests to the former county coroner, Julie Heggie.

“It was very, very, very few (records) considering it was supposed to cover 16 years worth of coroner’s office activity,” Furgeson said Monday.

He said there was no pattern to which records were missing. He said he had no reason to believe that the autopsy report for Shepard or other high profile cases had been withheld or stolen. Shepard died Oct. 12, 1998, five days after he was beaten and left for dead in a field near Laramie.

Heggie, who was Albany County coroner from 1990 to 2006, hung up on a reporter when contacted by The Associated Press on Monday. Heggie told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle last week that she gave the autopsy reports to the county attorney when she left office. She wouldn’t specify how she turned them over.

When contacted by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Albany County Attorney Richard Bohling would not comment on whether he had the missing autopsy reports.

Wyoming law calls for all public records to be transferred by outgoing officials and employees to their successors.

Albany County Commissioner Tim Chesnut said he planned to speak with the county attorney on the subject.

“At this point, we need to get with Julie (Heggie) and find out where this stuff is,” Chesnut said.


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  • Doug loves you Said: October 7th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
    • May your soul have found peace. What a shame you were killed at such a young age. I was pleased to read about the bench on U of W campus. I’ve kept up on your story all along. Can Heaven help us to stop the wars and killing and suffering unimaginal to most of us. RIP my friend. Bless all of you readers. Love and Peace, Doug and Phil…

  • Andrea Andrews Said: October 8th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
    • What ever happened to having a S.O.P. on file security & handling? Files should checkout procedures, building & storage security. Transfer of files should not be let to individual whim. What a crime to the victims, the survivors, & the system that needs those files to search for or prove the guilt of their killers. How many killers may go free if those files aren’t found? How many innocent people are still in jail & not home with their loved ones??

 
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