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Fr. Robert Schwenker, OMI - Autopsy Report
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Fr. Robert Schwenker, OMI - Autopsy Report
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Updated: 15 March 2005
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Embassy of the United States of America
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Bogotá, Colombia
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February 9, 2005
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Mr. Robert R. Dear Mr. R., |
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| .....I am writing in response
to your letter of August 23, 2004 to Ambassador Wood concerning the death
of Reverend Robert Schwenker. The Ambassador's office passed your letter
to me for reply. Please accept my condolences on the tragic death of your
close friend. |
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| .....Upon receipt of your
letter, we discussed the case with the State Department Foreign Service
medical doctor assigned to Bogotá, who reviewed the report of the autopsy
performed by the Colombian National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic
Sciences. He translated the report and forwarded it to the Chief of Forensics
at the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. In the opinion of the
Chief of Forensics, the Colombian autopsy was well done. He agreed that
Father Schwenker probably died after being hit by a car, as described
by the Colombian report. He added that if Father Schwenker had been assaulted
(i.e. hit with a blunt object on the head), there should have been a distinct
depressed skull fracture at the point of impact, which there wasn't. He
concluded that the mechanism of injury that would explain the findings
is consistent with a pedestrian vs. motor vehicle accident - Father Schwenker
was probably struck on his thigh, lifted into the air, and then struck
his head against the hood or windshield. |
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| .....On October 1, 2004, the
Embassy also wrote to Dr. Nestor Raul Garzon, Chief of Forensic Medicine
at the Colombian Government's Institute of Legal Medicine, asking him
to review the initial autopsy finding. Dr. Garzon concluded that Father
Schwenker died as a result of a severe blow to the head, indicative of
having been hit by an automobile, thrown into the air, and striking his
head on the way down. He also told us that Dr. Yolanda Sarmiento, Chief
of International Affairs, Office of the Colombian State Prosecutor, was
preparing a full report of the investigation. |
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| .....On December 20, 2004,
we received Dr. Sarmiento's report in which she informed us that her investigation
has concluded that Father Schwenker's death was caused by a head injury
incurred in a traffic accident. She added that police investigators conducted
a thorough investigation of the incident, including interviews in the
neighborhood and an inspection of the area, but were nevertheless unable
to establish the identity of the driver. |
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| .....Colombian authorities
have been very cooperative with the Embassy, and we believe the autopsy
and investigation were conducted in a competent and professional manner.
While we understand your concern that Father Schwenker may have been the
victim of an intentional assault, the evidence suggests that you friend
was instead the victim of a tragic hit-and-run traffic accident. We remain
open, however, to any new evidence or information relating to this case.
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| .....Again, please accept
my sincere condolences on the loss of your friend. |
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| Sincerely,
David P. Schensted |
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