CIA's copy of an autopsy report of Iraqi Major General Abed Mowhoush, who died in U.S. custody at the Al-Qaim detention facility in Iraq. The document states, "the details surrounding the circumstances at the time of death are classified." The "cause of death" is "asphyxia due to smothering and chest compression." Also found were rib fractures and numerous bruises due to impacts with blunt objects. The "manner of death" is classified as "homicide." The CIA released the first six and last two pages of the report as two separate documents. For purposes of the database, we have combined them. The CIA version of the autopsy report contains different redactions than the DOD version.
. C05951639
IAPPRO~ED FOR RELEASE DATE: 06-Sep-2013
AUTOPSY REPOR~
Mowhqsh, Abid MG '---------'
The pancreas is finn imd yellow-tan, with the usual lobular architecture. No mass lesions
or other abnormalities are seen. ·
ADRENALS:
The right and left adrenal glands are symmetric but auto lysed. No masses or areas of
hemorrhage are· identified.
GENITOURINARY SYSTEM:
·The right and left kidneys weigh 180 gm each. The external surfaces are intact and
smooth. The cut surfaces are red-tan and congested, with uniformly thick cortices and
sharp corticomedullary junctions. The pelves are unremarkable and the ureters are .
normal in course and caliber. white bladder mucosa overlies an intact bladder wall. The
bladder is empty. The prostate is nortnal'in size, with lobular, yellow-tan parenchyma and
nodular. The seminal vesicles ·are unremarkable. The testes are free of mass lesions,
contusions, or other abnormalities.
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT:
The esophagns· is intact and lined by smooth, grey-white mucosa. The stomach contains
approximately 30.ml ofbrown liquid. The gastric wall is intact. The duodenum, loops of
small bowel, and colon are unremarkable. The appendix is present and unremarkable.
ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES
• Documentary photographs are taken byLI --:--c-c----:----:-~
• f Army Criminal Investigative Division (CID)
attended the autopsy
• Specimens retained for toxicologic testing arid/or DNA identification are: blood,
spleen, liver, lung, kidney, brain, gastric, imd psoas ·
• The dissected organs are forwarded with body
• Personal effects are released to the appropriate mortuary operations
. representatives
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
Heart: Sections ·show inild- moderate myocyte hypertrophy, perivascular and interstitial
fibrosis, and fatty infiltration of the right ventricle. Postmortem overgrowth ofbacteria
without an inflammatory response is noted.
Lungs: Sections show intra-alveolar edema fluid, perivasuclar anthracosis, congestion,
and postmortem overgrowth of bacteria without an inflammatory response. No
polarizable foreign material is identified.
Kidney: Section shows vascular congestion and autolysis. No polarizable foreign material
is identified.
Liver: Sections show moderate predominantly macrovesicular steatosis, mild periportal
fibrosis, and no significant inflammation. ·
C05951639
"
@'PPROVED FOR RELEASE DATE: 06-Sep-2013 .. '
AUTOPSY REPORT
Mowhosh, Abid MG '----------"
Brain: Section shows no significant pathologic abnormality.
Right omohyoid muscle: Section shows no significant pathologic abnormality.
Contusion of the right buttock: Sections shows extravasation of erythrocytes without a
significant inflammatory response and no significant hemosiderin deposition by H and E
stain.
SEROLOGY
8
Postmortem serologic testing for antibodies to human Immunodeficiency virus (HN) and
hepatitis C virus were non-reactive (negative).
Spleen was positive for hepatitis B DNA by PCR
TOXICOLOGY
Toxicologic analysis of blood and liver was negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide,
. ethanol (alcohol), and illicit substances (drugsr
OPINION
This 56 year-old Iraqi detainee died of asphyxia due to smothering and chest
compression. Significant findings of the autopsy included rib fractures and numerous
·contusions (bruises), some of which were patterned due to impacts with a blunt object(s).
Another fulding of the autopsy was an enlarged heart, the etiology of which is uncertain.
Other findings included a fatty liver, which can be seen most commonly with obesity or
alcohol abwie. The spleen was positive for hepatitis B DNA by polymerase chain reaction
(PCR). There were scars in the chest cavity most likely due to an old infection. Scars
were noted in the abdominal cavity due to prior surgical removal of the gallbladder.
Although an enlarged heart may result in sudden death, the history surrounding the death
along with patterned contusions.and broken ribs support a traumatic cause of death and
therefore the manner of death is best classified as homicide.
I ~edical Examiner