Sandra Bland death: official autopsy reveals she committed suicide inside jail cell

Originally published on 24 July, 2015 Sign up for a free trial of News Direct's animated news graphics at http://newsdirect.nma.com.tw/Reuters.aspx ----------------------------------------­----------------------------------------­---------------- For story suggestions please contact [email protected] Preliminary autopsy results show the cause of Sandra Bland's death suicide by hanging, according Warren Diepraam, a Waller County, Texas, prosecutor during a press conference Thursday. Bland was a black woman who was arrested for failing to use her turn signal on July 10, and was found dead in her jail cell hanging from a rope fashioned out of a plastic bag days later. Her death has incited outrage nationwide, with many claiming her death was the result of an attack or murder. However, according to Diepraam, preliminary autopsy results show Bland did not have injuries or defensive wounds on her hands, which would be consistent with an attack. However, he added that although defensive injuries are typical in cases of violent homicide, they are not always found. "There were no bite marks or other injuries on her face, on her lips, on her tongue, which would be consistent with a violent struggle," he said. The mark that examiners found around Bland’s neck was consistent and uniform, which indicates hanging by suicide rather than there having been a violent struggle, Diepraam said. Examiners also did not find any damage to Bland’s trachea and esophagus, which would be indicative of a violent struggle. However, officials did find approximately 30 "cut marks" on Bland’s left forearm, according to the New York Times. The cuts were were in a state of healing and appeared to have been administered about two to four weeks prior to her arrest, Diepraam said. The abrasions to Bland’s wrists, meanwhile, were consistent with her struggling while being handcuffed. Marijuana also was found in Bland’s system at the time of her death, Diepraam said. Bland’s family is claiming that she was killed in her jail cell, and that video footage indicating otherwise was altered. The family has paid for an independent autopsy, but the results of that have not yet been released. ----------------------------------------­----------------------------------------­---------------- Next Media Animation’s News Direct service provides daily, high-quality, informative 3D animated news graphics that fill in for missing footage and help viewers understand breaking news stories or in-depth features on science, technology, and health. To subscribe to News Direct or for more info, please visit: http://newsdirect.nma.com.tw/Index.aspx