Chatham Co. Police claim hospital ‘miscommunication’ led to no autopsy in teen stabbing death
By Kirsten Maselka
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CHATHAM COUNTY, Georgia (WJCL) — Chatham County police say an autopsy they requested in the death of an 18-year-old stabbing victim was never performed, potentially complicating the murder case tied to the killing.
Lead Detective Jonathan Puhala of the Chatham County Police Department testified during a recent preliminary hearing that an autopsy was ordered following the death of 18-year-old JT Schroeder, who investigators say was fatally stabbed outside the Walmart on Whitemarsh Island in October.
“There was some sort of miscommunication in the hospital… the hospital released him to the funeral home, where he was cremated,” Puhala said.
Police say Schroeder died at Memorial Health University Medical Center. According to the department, both the Chatham County Coroner’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation placed a hold on Schroeder’s body so an autopsy could be conducted.
Despite those holds, investigators say Memorial Health released the body to a funeral home, where Schroeder was cremated before the autopsy could take place.
In a statement to WJCL, a Memorial Health spokesperson the hospital has “processes in place to ensure proper handling of the deceased,” adding that when procedures are not followed, the hospital reviews staff training and works with outside agencies “to prevent something like this from happening again.”
Legal experts say the missing autopsy could pose a serious challenge for prosecutors in the case against Delano Middleton, who is accused of killing Schroeder.
“Missing that element destroys the entire case in terms of the allegation itself, because the state wouldn’t be able to prove that element in the indictment. So this is critical,” Savannah criminal defense attorney Michael Schiavone said.
Schiavone said it is rare for a homicide case to proceed without an autopsy and that the lack of formal medical findings could make it significantly harder for prosecutors to prove murder charges.
“It would be almost impossible to prove that element without some medical testimony,” he said.
Schiavone noted that, in some instances, a physician’s testimony about treatment and observed injuries can partially stand in for an autopsy. But he added that such testimony is uncommon in criminal cases because medical professionals are often reluctant to become involved in court proceedings of this nature.
The investigation into Schroeder’s death and the circumstances surrounding the body’s release remains ongoing.
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