The Texas Cadet Murder Case

"The body is that of a normally developed, well-nourished and well-hydrated Caucasian adolescent," dictated medical examiner Dr. Marc Krouse as he stood over the body. The medical examiner's office had received no identification for the young woman who was wheeled in through the back door that morning. Tagged as Jane Doe, Case #954705T, the body was placed in the refrigerated storage room until the medical examiner could attend to her. Only occasionally does an unidentified body come into the medical examiner's office and a quick identification would be expected in this case.

Each stage of the meticulous process requires photographs---49 pictures in all---in the medical examiner's relentless search for the cause of death. Among some of his notations: "there is no evidence of genital trauma," and "a tampon is in place in the vagina," ruling out a sexual assault; although to be certain, a rape exam would be required. In spite of the lack of evidence of sexual trauma, a fierce struggle is indicated.

"A series of abrasions and superficial puncture wounds (some with obvious hemorrhage) are found on the legs," Dr. Krouse observed.  It was a painful struggle, although there is no way to know how long it had lasted. It was certain that she died from "blunt traumatic head injury" or a bullet wound.

The medical examiner could tell that the shooter had been close, within only a few feet, although, it was impossible to tell which wound was inflicted first. The shooter had stood below the victim while he shot her with one bullet---the angle of the trajectory was steep---and with another bullet---more vicious and straight in its trajectory---standing directly over her, he shot her between the eyes. A large caliber bullet is found "free in the hair," a crucial piece of evidence for future legal proceedings that he marked as #950182. Firearms experts could match the bullet to the murder weapon and hopefully to the owner.

Just before 4:00 p.m., forensic investigator Franco received a call from the Mansfield police department about the missing 16-year-old white female. Franco noted that the missing girl had a scar on her left knee from some sort of microscopic surgery and that she was probably wearing workout or athletic clothes. The information was compared with the unidentified girl found in the farmer's field.

Sergeant Craig Magnuson, a friend of the Joneses, came to their house upon hearing that Adrianne was missing. But, when the medical examiner's office called with news of an unidentified young woman and a request for a recent picture of Adrianne, he knew this was not a good sign.

When the medical examiner saw Adrianne's photo, he made a positive identification. Magnuson took the call, listened for a moment before hanging up the receiver, and informed Linda Jones of the tragic news.