An autopsy performed by authorities in Texas found that Sandra Bland committed suicide, according to prosecutors.
The autopsy report, which has not been released to the public, indicates the cause of death was hanging.
"The
evidence that we've reviewed up to this point supports those findings,"
Waller County Assistant Dist. Atty. Warren Diepraam told reporters
Thursday.
"In a violent homicide or a murder, where one person
takes another person's life, it is typical ... to see some sort of
injuries on the person's hands," he said.
No such injuries were
found on Bland's hands, he said, and there were no signs of injuries to
her inner eyelids or the lining of her mouth, other possible indicators
of a violent struggle, Diepraam said.
Despite previous reports that a second autopsy had been ordered,
Dist. Atty. Elton Mathis said, "We have not asked for, nor do we intend
to ask for, a second autopsy."
In an email to The Times, Diepraam
said Mathis had requested that the “body be preserved for possible
forensic testing” after toxicology results indicated marijuana was
present in Bland's blood.
Investigators have requested additional
drug screening and asked the family not to destroy the body by cremation
until the testing is completed, he said.
At the news conference
Thursday, however, Diepraam said that forensic investigators now believe
they have enough tissue to conduct the additional tests.
The
autopsy also found about 30 cuts on Bland’s left wrist, Diepraam said,
adding that they were “in a state of healing and scabbing” and may have
been inflicted about two to four weeks before she was jailed.
Her family
and supporters have repeatedly rejected official comments
that Bland committed suicide in her cell on July 13, three days after
she was arrested by Trooper Brian T. Encinia. Authorities said the
28-year-old black woman hanged herself with a trash bag.
Much of
the attention in recent days has focused on the emotional and physical
state of the woman. Her family and friends have insisted that Bland was
upbeat about getting a new job in Prairie View and never would have
taken her own life.
“I’m in my car. Why do I have to put out my cigarette?” Bland answered.
“Well, you can step on out now,” Encinia responded.
Bland refused, saying she did not have to step out of the car.
Encinia opened the driver’s door and tried to physically remove Bland from the vehicle.
“I’m going to yank you out of here,” Encinia said as the two struggled. “I’m going to drag you out of here.”
“Don’t touch me; I’m not under arrest,” Bland said.
“I will light you up!” Encinia said, while pointing a stun gun at Bland.
Much
of the subsequent confrontation occurs outside the view of the
dash-cam, but the audio captures what sounded like a struggle. Bland is
heard saying that the officer “just slammed my head to the ground.”
Later,
when a female officer arrives at the scene, Encinia says Bland “started
yanking away, then kicked me, so I took her straight to the ground.” In
his arrest affidavit, Encinia says he had pain in his right leg and
suffered small cuts to his right hand.
Bland was arrested on
suspicion of assaulting a public servant, a felony charge. She was taken
to the Waller County jail and was held in lieu of $5,000 bail.
Los Angeles Times
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