The Exhumation and Identification of Lee Harvey Oswald

Linda E. Norton, 1 M.D.; Jaes A Cottone, 2 D.M.D., M.S.; Irvin M. Sopher, 3 D.D.S., M.D. ; and Vincent J. M. DiMaio, 4 M.D. The Exhuation and Identification of Lee Harvey Oswald REFERENCE: Norton, L. E., Cottone, J. A., Sopher, I. M., and DiMaio, V. J. M., "The Exhuation and Identlfleatlon of Lee Harvey Oswald," Journal of Forensic Sciences, JFSCA, Vol. 29, No. 1, Jan. 1984, pp. 19-38. ABSTRACT: The investigations surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the subsequent killing of Lee Harvey Oswald resulted in any theories concerning what really happened in Noveber 1963. One theory postulated the substitution of a Russian agent for Oswald; another that his grave was actually epty. This report docuents the historical background, legal proceedings, preparations and actual exhuation, exaination, and identification of the reains of Lee Harvey Oswald. The pertinent findings of a cracked vault, deteriorated casket, decoposed reains, two rings, a astoidectoy defect, and the details of the positive dental identification are presented. Additional ites covered include tea foration, security easures, site selection, financial considerations, the news edia, and selection of authorized witnesses. KEYWORDS: pathology and biology, odontology, Lee Harvey Oswald. huan identification, dentition Historical Background and Legal Proceedings Lee Harvey Oswald was born on 18 Oct. 1939 in New Orleans, LA (Table I). He was a eber of the United States Marine Corps fro 24 Oct. 1956 through 3 Sept. 1959. Following his release fro active ilitary duty, Oswald defected to the USSR, et and arried Marina Prusakova. a Russian citizen, and together, they returned to the United States in 1962. On 22 Nov. 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX. Oswald was arrested in connection with the assassination and two days later, was fatally shot by Jack Ruby while being transferred to a vehicle at the Dallas County Jail. An autopsy was perfored by Dallas County Coroner Dr. Earl Rose. Although Oswald's identity was not in question at the tie, a single thubprint was taken that was positively copared with ilitary records. Fourteen years later, British author Michael Eddowes published The Oswald File [1] in which he alleged that a "look-alike" Russian agent had been substituted for Oswald during his defection and returned to the United States to assassinate President Kennedy. Using what Eddowes called "inconsistencies" between Oswald's Marine Corps edical records and the autopsy I Medicolegal consultant, Dallas, TX. 2Associate professor and head, Section of Forensic Odontology, Departent of Dental Diagnostic Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School. 3Chief edical exainer, State of West Virginia, South Charleston, WV and clinical professor of pathology, West Virginia University School of Medicine and Marshall University School of Medicine. 4Bexar county chief edical exainer, San Antonio, TX. 19 Copyright 1984 by ASTM International

20 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES TABLE 1--Lee Harvey Oswald--historical background and legal proceedings. Date 18 Oct. 1939 24 Oct. 1956 3 Sept. 1959 1961 13 June 1962 22 Nov. 1963 24 Nov. 1963 1977 10 Jan. 1979 1 June 1979 Aug. 1979 30 Aug. 1979 Sept. 1979-Feb. 1980 20 Feb. 1980 21 Feb. 1980 8 Aug. 1980 14 Aug. 1980 5 Sept. 1980 19 Aug. 1981 17 Sept. 1981 23 Sept. 1981 25 Sept. 1981 Midnight, 3 Oct. 1981 4 Oct. 1981 Occurrence Date of birth Induction into U.S. Marine Corps Separation fro U.S. Marine Corps Oswald arries Oswald returns to United States President John F. Kennedy assassinated Oswald assassinated Eddowes publishes Tile Oswald File Eddowes files suit to force exhuation Eddowes' request denied Attorneys for Eddowes approach Dallas County edical exainer Dallas edical exainer obtains edical and dental records Jurisdictional battle between Dallas and Tarrant Counties Tarrant County withdraws active opposition to exhuation Dallas edical exainer withdraws saying exhuation unnecessary Marina signs autopsy consent Robert Oswald obtains Teporary Restraining Order (TRO) against exhuation Robert's injunction granted Marina files suit against Robert The Court of Appeals dissolves Robert's original injunction Robert Oswald granted TRO Robert capitulates TRO expires Exhuation and identification occurs report, he first approached Dr. Felix Gwozdz, then Medical Exainer for Tarrant County, Texas (Fort Worth), where Oswald was buried, requesting that he exhue the body so as to verify the identification. When Dr. Gwozdz refused, Eddowes filed suit in the Tarrant County 141st District Court against both Dr. Gwozdz and the Tarrant County District Attorney to force exhuation [2]. The court granted a suary judgent for the defendants denying Eddowes request. The Texas Court of Appeals later stated that the trial court should have disissed the case, an opinion which was upheld by the Texas Supree Court. Meanwhile, while awaiting appeal, attorneys for Eddowes approached Dr. Linda Norton, then Medical Exainer for Dallas County, suggesting that the Dallas County Medical Exainer's Office resue their original jurisdiction over the case and exhue the body. After consulting with Dr. Charles Petty, Dallas County Chief Medical Exainer, Dr. Norton obtained a copy of Oswald's edical and dental records including dental interproxial ("bitewing") radiographs fro the Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. These records would be useful for a forensic science identification because they were dated before Oswald's defection to the USSR and thus contained identity data of the "real" Lee Harvey Oswald. Dr. Petty subsequently requested that the pathology resident who had recently replaced the deceased Dr. Gwozdz as Tarrant County Medical Exainer exhue the body "buried in Rosehill Ceetery under the nae of Lee Harvey Oswald" under Article 49.25 of the Texas Code of Criinal Procedure and send the reains to the Dallas County Medical Exainer's Office for autopsy. A jurisdictional battle ensued as legal opinions regarding Article 49.25 varied considerably as to which county, if any, had jurisdiction over a person killed in one county but subsequently buried in another. The conflict appeared to be resolved soe six onths later when Tart'ant County officials withdrew their active opposition to the exhuation, clearing the way for Dallas County to proceed; however, the Dallas County Chief Medical Exainer then also withdrew stating that he no longer felt the exhuation was necessary. At this point, all legal actions had been copleted and all involved parties were quiet for several onths.

NORTON ET AL 9 LEE HARVEY OSWALD 21 Eddowes then directed his attention to Marina Oswald Porter, Oswald's legal next of kin, and obtained her signature oll a consent for Dr. Petty to perfor the autopsy at the Dallas County Medical Exainer's Office as a "private case." Eddowes was to pay all expenses. News of the preparation for exhuation propted Oswald's brother, Robert, to request a teporary restraining order (TRO) which was granted by the aforeentioned 141st District Court. In his original petition, Robert Oswald naed Petty, Eddowes, Marina Oswald Porter, Rosehill Ceetery, and the Dallas County Coissioner's Court Judge. By aended pleadings, Robert disissed all but Petty, Eddowes, and Rosehill Ceetery. The court denied the injunction against Rosehill Ceetery, granted Petty the right to be sued in the county of his residence, rather than Tarrant County (thus, effectively severing hi fro the suit), and granted Robert's injunction against Michael Eddowes. Petty failed to coply to a subpoena to appear for the hearing (because of iscounication) and Robert's attorneys filed a otion for contept. Meanwhile, the Dallas County Coissioners, stirred by what they considered "adverse publicity" for Dallas County, openly opposed the use of any county facility for the exaination, justifying their position by stating that a "private" autopsy should not be perfored using county property. During the next year, while awaiting Eddowes' appeal of the injunction, nuerous negotiation attepts, otions, and counter otions kept attorneys for all sides occupied. Finally. on 19 Aug. 1981, Marina, tiring of the harassent and believing that the grave was in fact epty, filed suit against Robert. By rearkable coincidence the ease becae "randoly" assigned to the 141st District Court. On 17 Sept. 1981, slightly over a year after the lower court's decision to grant Robert Oswald an injunction against Eddowes, the Court of Appeals heard the case. Again, they reversed the 141st District Court citing Article 49.05 of the Texas Code of Criinal Procedure. The court found that Robert had no "justiciable" interest in the exhuation of the reains of his brother given the fact that there was a surviving spouse and children. Marina Oswald Porter was now considered by the Court of Appeals as an "indispensible party" because of her statutory rights under Article 49.05. By dissolving the injunction, the court effectively allowed Marina to pursue her lawsuit against Robert. Despite the higher court's decision, a week later the 141st District Court again granted Robert a teporary restraining order against Marina; however, Robert and his attorneys capitulated citing eotional and financial burdens as the reason. Thus, the teporary restraining order was allowed to run its ten-day course and expire at idnight, 3 Oct. 1981, peritting Marina without judicial intervention, to proceed with the exhuation on 4 Oct. Preparations for Exhuation and Exaination As litigation progressed and it becae apparent that the exhuation would ultiately take place, practical issues were addressed by attorneys for both Eddowes and Marina. The choice of Dr. Norton as the chief forensic pathologist for the exaination was based on the fact that: (1) she was failiar to the attorneys; (2) she had escaped involveent in any of the litigation; and (3) she had possession of the critical edical and dental records and radiographs. Because of the legal iplications of the case, a tea approach was elected, with the desired goal to keep the tea as sall as possible. A total of two forensic pathologists and two forensic odontologists was felt to be sufficient. The selection of an exaination site was ore difficult. The county coissioners had earlier denied the use of the Dallas Institute of Forensic Science, and Mrs. Marina Oswald Potter refused to allow the reains to be transported out of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Therefore, a search was conducted for a local facility that: (1) could be effectively secured and (2) whose personnel were willing to accept the certain disruption of routine and possible controversy to be expected in a case of this nature. Dr. George Race, Chairan of the Departent of Pathology at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, was approached and, with the consent of Baylor Hospital ad-

22 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES inistrators, agreed to the use of his facility. Dr. Cottone, tea eber and forensic odontologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, with the perission of health science center adinistrators, supplied the necessary equipent for the dental exaination. Mr. Eddowes was responsible for all expenses. The exaination tea worked for expenses only because of the controversial nature of the case; Baylor accepted a very noinal fee; and at least one attorney, to date, has received no reuneration. The autopsy facility at Baylor satisfied all requireents for a secure exaination. Once access to the autopsy area was achieved, inial security was necessary to prevent any trespass caused by a single door entry (Fig. 1). Security was of paraount iportance, especially to X-Roy I Dental l ~Unit [SuPpliesl SITE OF MEDICAL EXAM Dental Ipression Materials / X- Ray Developing Unit,! I : IU: SUPPLY ROOM! BODY VAULTS I i I I" SUPPLY ROOM,T LOCKER ROOM SECURED HALLWAY Path of Casket FIG. 1--Baylor Pathology Laboratories (scheatic drawing) as equipped, staffed, and used for the exaination and identification of Lee Harvey Oswald on 4 Oct. 1981.

NORTON ET AL 9 LEE HARVEY OSWALD 23 Mrs. Marina Oswald Porter, who abhored the idea of the possible publication of another unauthorized photograph of Oswald's reains as had occurred subsequent to the 1963 autopsy. The exaination tea was allowed to ake only close-up docuentary photographs as shown herein. The entire proceeding was, however, videotaped by a personal friend of the Porters. Security was handled by a private agency, as chosen by the attorneys. Other persons allowed to be present during the exaination were deterined largely by the various attorneys. The exaination tea was assisted by one pathology technician and one dental radiology technician. Dr. Race and his chief associate alternated to help axiize the use of their equipent and facility; a court recorder noted all proceedings; and attorneys representing Eddowes, Marina Porter, Robert Oswald, and Rosehill Ceetery, were also present. The ortician who closed Mr. Oswald's casket reained in the roo until the casket was reopened. Mebers of the news edia were totally excluded fro the proceedings with the exception of one United Press International (UPI) reporter who, upon agreeent with at least one of the attorneys, was allowed into a orgue anteroo. A single public press conference was held at the conclusion of the exaination, coincidental with the body being transported back to Rosehill Ceetery for reinterent in a new casket and vault. The Exhuation A sall crowd gathered at Rosehill Ceetery during the predawn hours of Sunday, 4 Oct. 1981 (Table 2). Backhoes began work on the gravesite as soon as there was sufficient light for safe operation. Speedy reoval of the reains was ephasized: (1) for better security and (2) to allow the ceetery to open its gates for gravesite visitations as early as possible. The concrete vault was quickly exposed and noted to be cracked which negated the original plan to reove and transport it intact for opening at the vault copany. A trench was dug along the vault which allowed worken to open it easily. Extensive water daage to the casket was apparent: the cover was weak in any areas, and in one place had caved in partially exposing the reains. A wooden platfor was lowered into the trench and the casket was gently slid onto it. A cardboard lid, designed to fit over the casket, was in place before lifting the platfor fro the grave and placing it in a hearse. The entire operation was copleted by 9:00 a.. (Central Daylight Savings Tie [CDT]), by which tie, a large crowd of spectators and news edia representatives had gathered. The hearse, heading toward Dallas, lent further credance to the assuption that the exaination was to take place at the Dallas Institute of Forensic Science. Thus, ost of the news edia went to that office which facilitated the rapid transport of the casket into the Baylor autopsy area (Fig. 1). TABLE 2--Tietable of exhuation and identification of Lee Harvey Oswald, 4 Oct. 1981. 6:30 a.. u Exhuation began 8:00 a.. Unearth casket 9:00 a.. Leave Rosehill 9:20 a.. Arrive at Baylor Medical Center, Dallas 2:30 p.. Exa coplete 3:00 p.. News conference 4:00 p.. Reinterent Central Daylight Savings Tie.

24 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES The Forensic Science Exaination Decedent: Oswald, Lee Harvey. Date of exaination: 4 Oct. 1981. Place of exaination: Baylor Medical Center, Dallas, TX. Tie of exaination: 10:00 a.. (CDT). External Exaination The reains were received in a oderately rotting wood coffin easuring 203 e (80 in.) in length with a depth of 61 c (24 in.) and an estiated width of 61 c (24 in. ) with the thickness of the casket sides being approxiately 2.5 c (1 in.). 5 The exterior aspects of the coffin showed oisure softening of the wood and a diffuse dark brown-black splotchy discoloration with several arkedly tarnished apparent etallic ornaents noted about the sides. The above easureents do not include the wooden top of the casket which disebered upon reoval fro the casket itself. The interior of the casket showed siilar splotchy brown-black discoloration and oisturesoftening of the wood texture. A portion of fabric esh aterial, representing renants of the fabric lining of the top of the casket, had fallen upon the decoposed reains covering the anterior torso area. This was reoved to reveal a clothed arkedly decoposed body lying on its back upon the casket floor, lower extreities extended and straight with the upper extreities flexed at the elbow and with the hands resting upon the anterior abdoen at the approxiate level of the waist. The skull faced anteriorly. The body rested upon a straw at bedding aterial, arkedly rotten, which currently possessed a thickness of approxiately 2.5 c (1 in.). The clothing upon the body showed variable degrees of disintegration caused by postorte change. The clothing was in noral position upon the reains with the outer layer of clothing consisting of relatively intact coarse-woven dark (dark-brown) suit coat and atching trousers secured about the waist by elastic band rather than belt. Few renants of a disintegrated lightcolored shirt were identified and a relatively intact black standard necktie was in usual position within the anterior torso idline and about the neck. A relatively intact pair of white with green diaond pattern boxer undershorts were also in position upon the body in addition to dark socks upon the feet; shoes or renants thereof were not identified within the casket. The body, with the exception of the skull, as will be described, was not reoved fro the casket nor was it dislodged, therefore, the posterior aspects of the clothing and body were not exained. None of the clothing was incised or reoved fro the body. Upon entry into the casket a oderate alodor eanated fro the decoposing body. As easured in the casket fro superior skull to heel region on the left, a body length of 177 c (691/2 in.) was obtained. A gold wedding band and a red stone ring were reoved fro the fifth digit of the left hand (subsequently identified by Mrs. Porter as representative of ites placed upon the body at the tie of initial burial). The head structures will be described below. The clothing present upon the anterior torso was displaced laterally revealing diffusely decoposed arkedly shriveled and shrunken friable soft tissue which, where reaining, showed priarily saponification and adipocere foration with a pair of postorte tissue disintegration defects noted within the bilateral pectoral chest areas easuring 15.25 c (6 in.) on the left and 10.2 c (4 in.) on the right. The reaining anterolateral ribs were arkedly friable and crubled with ild pressure. The ajority of the soft tissue of the anteroabdoinal wall was totally disintegrated and contained within the body cavity was a beige plastic bag easuring 69 by 50 c (27 by 191/2 in.) with an approxiate 28 c (ll-in.) diaeter which contained a inial aount of pasty tan decoposed tissue estiated at 20 c 3. The existing thoracoabdoinal cavity was liited posteriorly by brown-black friable decoposed soft tissue as described for the anterior torso. Ebaler stuffing aterial filled the body cavity. The exposed feet showed partial skeletoniza- SThe original easureents were ade in inch-pound units.

NORTON ET AL. LEE HARVEY OSWALD 25 tion. The skin covering the lower extreities was arkedly shriveled with arked dissolution of subcutaneous soft tissue and uscle so that the present diaeter of the lower extreities was estiated at approxiately one third of the in life circuference. The intact skin upon the distal lower extreities had a friable consistency, was ore dry than wet, shriveled, and parchentlike. The length of the right tibia as the body existed within the casket was 38 c (15 in.). (According to Trotter-Gleser data for white ales, the estiated stature is 174 c (5 ft 81/2 in.) The body as existed in the coffin showed no evidence of utilation other than postorte disintegration; the sae stateent applied to the reaining clothing. Patchy areas of variablecolored old foration were also noted about the body exterior. The body was aintained in anatoic continuity by virtue of decoposed soft tissue. The reains and casket were devoid of aggots with few crawling insect fors noted. The head was reoved fro the reainder of the body by incision of the uified soft tissue aintaining the skull, cervical and thoracic vertebral colun in noral continuity. This incision was ade at the approxiate second cervical vertebral interspace. The skull was covered by patchy areas of both uified soft tissue as well as adipocere foration. The calvariu for the ost part was free of soft tissue, however, a few strands of approxiate 10 c (4 in.) in length straight dark brown-black scalp hair were noted ebedded within uified scalp soft tissue adjacent to the right frontal scalp. A previous autopsy saw cut in the usual fashion was present on the calvariu with an anterior inverted V-notch in the right frontal region. The calvariu was aintained in continuity with the reainder of the skull by virtue of decoposed uified tissue. The previously sawed calvariu was not separated nor was it easily dislodged. The interior of the skull was not exained. The supraorbital ridges of the skull were ale in character and the nasal aperture was slightly ovoid with a sharp inferior sill. The astoid proinence of the left teporal bone revealed an irregularly ovoid 1.0- by 0.5-c defect penetrating to the interior of the astoid bone with the defect edges rounded and sooth (Fig. 2). The andible was aintained in anatoic continuity with the skull by virtue of decoposed soft tissue at the areas of articulation with the skull and by an ebaler wire perforating the and andibular anterior jaw structures. This wire was cut and the andible was readily disarticulated fro the base of the skull so as to enable postorte dental exaination. No incisions upon the body were ade except for that necessary for reoval of the skull fro the vertebral colun and for subsequent disarticulation of the andible and exposure of the dentition. Because of the friable condition of the body it was elected to reove the skull only fro the casket with inial disarticulation of the reains in accordance with the desires of next of kin. The above exaination was perfored with the reains within the casket and without reoval. Only anual anipulation of the reains was used so as to afford the observations noted above. No histologic sections nor toxicologic speciens were retained. Dental Exaination Initial cleansing of the teeth was followed by a series of radiographs and photographs to docuent the status of the dentition before any further disruption. After the andible (Fig. 3) was disarticulated fro the axilla (Fig. 4), they were further cleansed, photographed (Fig. 5), radiographed (Figs. 6 and 7), and the coplete dentition independently charted by each forensic odontologist. Dental study casts were also ade (Fig. 8). The coplete postorte charting is in Fig. 9 with a coparison to the anteorte records in Table 3. Dental Coparison It was necessary to answer two questions concerning the dental records prior to the disinterent. The first question was that of the date of the dental interproxial radiographs (Figs. 6 and 7) which Dr. Norton had obtained. Fro the list of Available Anteorte Dental Records (Table 4), it is noted that Oswald's initial dental health record was copleted at Marine Corps

FIG. 2--Right (a) and le[t (b) astoid processes ~?f Lee Harvey Oswald as photographed on 4 Oct. 1981. Note the evidence of prior astoid surge~., in b. (Anteorte records o/" lel't astoidectoy noted on ilitary enlistent and separatiots edioal records in October 1956 and Septeber 1q59, respectively. I 3 C Z 3> 0 0 Z o3 z 0

NORTON ET AL 9 LEE HARVEY OSWALD 27 FIG. 3--The dentition of Lee Harvey Oswald as photographed on 4 Oct. 1981: andibular teeth: occlusal v&w. FIG. 4--The dentition of Lee Harvey Oswald as photographed on 4 Oct. 1981: teeth: occlusal view.

28 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES FIG. S--The dentition of Lee Hr O, Oswr as photographed on 4 Oct. 1981: (a) axilla~ 3, right quadrant and (b) andibular right quadrant. Recruit Depot in San Diego on 25 Oct. 1956. Dental radiographs were ade on that date and also on 27 March 1958 (No. 3, Table 4). The teeth indicated as carious and restored by Oswald's dental health records were copatible with radiographs ade on 27 March 1958. The second question was whether or not all inconsistencies in the dental records could be explained and the records docuented as being authentic. Charting errors are coon, especially in a dental health record that has entries by any different practitioners as in the ili-

NORTON ET AL - LEE HARVEY OSWALD 29 FIG. S--The dentition of Lee H~wvey Oswald as photogruphed on 4 Oct. 1981: (c) axilla O' lej) quadrant and (d) andibular lef't quadrant. tary. The Forensic Dental Exaination Suary (Table 3) indicates that the following errors were found and explainable: 1. Maxillary right third (No. 1, Universal Syste) Tooth noted as issing on several exainations and radiographs was actually unerupted and is not norally found in the radiographic view used. 2. Maxillary right second (No. 2, Universal Syste)

30 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES FIG. 5--The dentition qf Lee Harv O, OswaM as photogr~q~hed on 4 Oct. 1%'1: (e) anterior teeth attd (f) andibular anterior teeth. Occlusal-lingual etallic incorrectly charted on 25 Oct. 1956 which was really occlusal caries as docuented on radiographs of 27 March 1958. Occlusal-lingual etallic also was confused with the sae in the adjacent tooth ( right first ). 3. Maxillary left first pre (No. 12, Universal Syste) Maxillary left second pre (No. 13, Universal Syste) Maxillary left first (No. 14, Universal Syste)

Z 0 73 --4 0 Z i F- ro -1- ~J.< 0 o) r'- Co _.a, FIG. 6--The postorte and anteorte dental radiographs of the right axilla and andible of Lee Harvey Oswald: (a, b, and d) postorte radiographs, 4 Oct. 1981 attd (b) anteorte radiograph, 27 March 19.58. No. 3 Max#lark., right first --s deonstrate ore siilar radiographic orphology when attteorte angulation (b) is duplicated in (a) versus that in (e) and (d.). No. 5 Maxilla~ right first pre-- deonstrates identical radiographic orphology hi all radiographs. FIG. 7--The postorte and anteorte dental radiographs of Lee Harvey Oswald of the left axilla and andible: (a, e, and d) postorte radiographs, 4 Oct. 1981 and (b) anteorte radiograph, 27 March 1958. No. 12 Ma_~:illary left.first pre- deonstrates identieal radiographic orphology in all radiographs. No. 15 Maxillary left second -- deonstrates identical radiographic orphology ht all radiographs. No. 17 Mandibular left third --anteorte angulation (b) is duplicated in (d) resulthtg in siilar tooth contacts bt postorte radiographs. No. 19 Mandibular left first --s deonstrate siilar radiographic orpholog)., hi (b) fanteorte) and (c) attd (d) (postorte). No. 20 Mandibular left second pre--siilar pulpal anatoy in (b) (anteorte) and (e) (postorlenz}.

32 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES Copound error involving charting on 27 March 1958 of: (1) interproxial s versus caries and (2) one tooth anterior in the arch than correct (that is, on adjacent contact areas of No. 12 and No. 13 versus No. 13 and No. 14) which is correctly docuented on the radiographs of the sae date. 4. Maxillary left third (No. 16, Universal Syste) Sae error as right third described above. After uch study of the dental records, it was decided independently by each tea eber that the dental records were authentic and could be used to support an identification ade fro the dentition. Figures 6 and 7 deonstrate the high degree of consistency between the anteorte and postorte radiographs. Identical radiographic orphology was obtained when coparing both sets of radiographs in the right first pre (No. S), the left first pre (No. 12), and the left second (No. 15); and siilar radiographic orphology was deonstrated in the right first (No. 3), the left first (No. 14), and the andibular left third (No. 17). (The Universal Tooth Nubering Syste was used.) Additionally, siilar pulpal anatoy was deonstrated between anteorte and postorte radiographs in the andibular left second pre (No. 20). Based upon the consistency of the dental charting, the dental radiographs, the dental records, and the lack of any unexplainable, in ites, positive dental identification was ade. Suary and Conclusion A news conference was held at approxiately 3:00 p (CDT) on 4 Oct. 1981, at Baylor Medical Center for the exaination tea to announce that based upon the forensic science ex- FIG. 8--Dental stone casts of Lee Harvey Oswald ade on 4 Oct. 1981. Note the bilateral crossbite and the rotation of the left central incisor.

NORTON ET AL - LEE HARVEY OSWALD 33 UPPER LEFT partially erupted r~ LOWER LEFT ~ partially erupted occlusal aalga esial-occlusal aalga, root canal therapy, fractured esial-lingual cusp distal caries occlusal aalga F occlusal aalga ~] facial aalga esial-occlusal- --] distal aalga; facial aalga distal-occlusal aalga ~--] noral noral [-~ distal aalga [~ ~ noral --] noral distal rotation p.~-] norat esial caries distal rotation ['~ ~] noral noral F.-~-] noral proinent facial tubercule p q noral occlusal aalga ~--l noral distal caries esial & distal pit occlusal s; occlusal-lingual aalga F F i... ~---l noral 010 extraction site occlusal canes F occlusal aalga ~---] esial drift partially erupted E ~--] esial drift UPPER RIGHT LOWER RIGHT FIG. 9--Coposite postorte dental charting of Lee Harvey Oswald ade by Drs. Cottone and Sopher on 4 Oct. 1981 (Universal Tooth Nubering Syste}. aination conducted that date, "the reains in the grave arked as Lee Harvey Oswald are indeed Lee Harvey Oswald." This conclusion was based upon coparison of the postorte dental findings with existing anteorte dental charts and radiographs. The left astoidectoy defect also correlated with the anteorte edical records. Acknowledgent Special notes of appreciation to the Photography Unit of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for the security easures eployed while developing and print-

TABLE 3--Forens& dental exaination suary of Lee Harvey Oswald, 4 Oct. 1981. s copleted after last anteorte records new caries developed between 1958 and 1963 s show identical radiographic orphology consi~ent identical CO Tooth Nuber a Tooth Nae Anteorte Postorte Finding Source b Rearks Charting /Radiographs Rearks Correlation right third right second issing 2, 3, 4 not visible 5 occlusal lingual etallic radiographs do not show bone 2 10/25/56 occlusal caries partially erupted partially erupted occlusal caries tooth unerupted at tie of anteorte exa and radiographs error in charting; should have been arked on Tooth 3 only; really new caries between 1958 and 1963 s show siilar radiographic orphology probably O :0 Ill 7 r f~ noral 5 3/27/58 right first occlusal lingual 2, 5 etallic occlusal lingual aalga large occlusal right second right first pre noral occlusal etallic 5 2, 5 3/27/58 esial and distal fossa occlusal aalga s distal caries distal caries occlusal aalga occlusal etallic right cuspid noral proinent facial tubercule

s show identical radiographic orphology error in charting; should have been distal caries 13 error in charting; should have been esial caries 14 root canal therapy and perfored after last anteorte dental record date probably probably identical z 0 o z t'n --4 r- t- in nl I > < -< 0 co r- 8 9 10 12 right central incisor left central incisor left lateral incisor left first pre noral rotated distal aalga occlusal etallic 2,3 10/25/56 5/14/58 10/25/56 rotated distally esial caries rotated distally distal aalga occlusal aalga esial caries occlusal etallic distal no date no distal no distal 13 left second pre esial no date no esial no esial 14 15 16 left first left second left third distal caries occlusallingual etallic occlusal etallic issing not visible 5 2,5 2,5 2,3,4 3/27/58 5 radiographs do not show bone esial occlusal aalga with broken esial lingual cusp esial fossa aalga partially erupted distal caries esial occlusal with broken esial lingual cusp and root canal therapy esial fossa etallic partially erupted s show identical radiographic orphology tooth unerupted at tie of anteorte exas and radiographs

6o TABLE 3--Forensic dental exaination suary of Lee Harvey Oswald, 4 Oct. 1981. o~ Tooth Nuber a Tooth Nae Anteorte Postorte Finding Source b Rearks Charting Radiographs Rearks Correlation 17 18 19 andibular left third andibular left second andibular left first issing/i- 2, 3, 4 partially erupted partially erupted pacted unerupted 5 3/27/58 occlusal etallic 2 10/25/56 occlusal occlusal etallic aalga resto- ration facial aalga 2 11/1/56 facial aalga occlusal etallic 2 10/25/56 esial occlusal esial occlusal distal areal- distal etallic ga s show siilar radiographic orphology 20 21-29 andibular left second pre esial occlusal 2, 5 11/1/56 distal aal- 3/28/58 gain facial aalga 2 11/1/56 facial aalga distal occlusal 2, 3 4/30/58 distal oeclusal distal occlusal aalga etallic etallic distal caries 5 3/28/58 noral...... noral several lingual bone loss 24 and 25 30 andibular right first issing 2, 3, 4, 5... issing issing

Z O O Z t- r- "1- <,.< 0 o) r- CO 31 32 Other andibular occlusal etallic 2,5 right second with esial drift andibular issing/ right unerupted 2,3,5 third present 4 bilateral posterior crossbite tooth partially erupted at tie of charting 10/25/56 occlusal aalga with esial drift esial drift bilateral posterior crossbite occlusal etallic with esial drift present exa and bitewing radiographs 3/27/58 auniversal Nuber Syste. bfro list of Anteorte Dental Records (Table 4).

38 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES TABLE 4--Lee Harvey Oswald's anteorte dental records available on 4 Oct. 1981. 1. Report of edical exaination on Military Standard For 88 (enlistent exa) copleted at Ared Forces Exaination Station, Dallas, TX, on 24 Oct. 1956 (dental exa not perfored). 2. Dental Health Record on Military Standard For 603. Initial exa copleted at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA, on 25 Oct. 1956 with services rendered through 14 May 1958. 3. Dental exaination and treatent record on NAVMED-1299 initially copleted on 27 March 1958 with operations and treatents through 14 May 1958. 4. Report on edical exaination on Military Standard For 88 (separation exa) copleted at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Santa Ana, CA on 3 Sept. 1959. 5. Dental interproxial (bitewing) radiographs ade at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Santa Ana, CA on 27 March 1958. ing the illustrations along with Felix Cordero, Jr. and Hao Meguerditchian for their help with the exaination. References [l] Eddowes, M., The Oswald File, Clarkson N. Potter, New York, 1977. [2] Eddowes v. Curry, Tex. Civ. App. 599 SW2d 367. Address requests for reprints to Jaes A. Cottone, DMD, MS Departent of Dental Diagnostic Science The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School 7703 Floyd Curl Dr. San Antonio, TX 78284