Kaufman family sheds tears while forensic pathologist details autopsy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Caitlyn Kaufman's family broke down into tears Thursday as the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on their daughter explained to the jury how long it took her to die.
Dr. Erin Carney with the Davidson County Medical Examiner's Office took the stand while prosecutors asked for details on the bullet that traveled through the Nashville nurse's chest on Dec. 3, 2020.
Carney, who has performed more than 2,500 autopsies in her career, said there was a small tear in the left arm of Kaufman's scrubs jacket where the bullet entered. It then traveled through her left lung, aorta, right lung, broke her right rib, and came to a rest in her right arm.
The prosecutor asked if Kaufman's injury was survivable. It was not, Carney answered. She added that it would have taken seconds or a few short minutes for Kaufman to die, and noted that a few breaths were taken after the bullet entered her body.
The forensic pathologist said the only other wound she observed on Caitlyn's body was two small bruises on her knee, which were not connected to her death.
Dr. Carney says she did not see any soot or gun powder on Caitlyn's clothing that would indicate the bullet was shot from a close range.
Prosecutors say six rounds were fired into Kaufman's Mazda CX5 while she was driving to her shift at St. Ascension West. Devaunte Hill and James Cowan are each facing first-degree murder charges in Caitlyn's death. Both have entered not guilty pleas.
MORE COVERAGE
- New technology helped investigators reconstruct crime scene in Nashville nurse's murder
- Suspect's friend who led detectives to murder weapon testifies in Kaufman trial
- Crime scene photos show Caitlyn Kaufman's car riddled with bullet holes
- 'They did this together': Emotions run high during witness testimonies in Kaufman trial
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