Alanna Gallagher, the 6-year-old girl who was killed in July after disappearing while playing in her Saginaw neighborhood, had been immersed in water before her body was found, according to an autopsy report obtained by the Star-Telegram.
Whether the body was immersed before or after the girl’s death — and whether it was an attempt to wash away evidence — remains unclear.
The autopsy report, completed in late October, says that the girl’s body, hair and clothing were wet when she was found and that the surfaces of her hands and feet indicated that she’d been immersed for a prolonged period.
She died, however, from asphyxia caused by four plastic Wal-Mart sacks placed over her head, then secured with red tape wrapped around her neck and head.
The body showed evidence of sexual assault, including the presence of sperm.
She had head and face trauma, as well as abrasions and bruising on parts of her body, some suggestive of fingertip injuries to her lower abdomen, according to the autopsy report.
Autopsy: Slain Saginaw girl had been immersed in water
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http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/11/13/5333711/slain-saginaw-girl-had-been-immersed.html?storylink=addthis#.UoP_MKHwX5A.facebook&rh=1
My 600th post is dedicated to you Alanna, RIP sweetie <3
Posted Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013
By Deanna Boyd -
Alanna Gallagher, the 6-year-old girl who was killed in July after disappearing while playing in her Saginaw neighborhood, had been immersed in water before her body was found, according to an autopsy report obtained by the Star-Telegram.
She died, however, from asphyxia caused by four plastic Wal-Mart sacks placed over her head, then secured with red tape wrapped around her neck and head.
The body showed evidence of sexual assault, including the presence of sperm.
She had head and face trauma, as well as abrasions and bruising on parts of her body, some suggestive of fingertip injuries to her lower abdomen, according to the autopsy report.
She was a wonderful, bright, beautiful little girl, Laura Gallagher said. We love her and miss her with all our heart.
(Much more at the link) http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/1...this#.UoP_MKHwX5A.facebook&rh=1#storylink=cpy
Bleh, this is really bringing back the memories of July. I am one to try to withhold judgement until all the facts are in, not to make assumptions based on outward appearances, not to read too much into mugshots, that kind of thing. But I will never forget the way my stomach dropped when TH turned and sneered at the news camera in that first clip we saw of him (weeks before the shootout). I don't usually experience the visceral/emotional reactions some do when looking at criminals, but I felt actual fear and menace, if just for a split second.
We of course couldn't outwardly discuss him as a suspect, and many were still focused on the parents because of their nontraditional marriage...but even still, in the few private conversations I had about him, it seemed the conclusion was generally reached, because of his FB page, that he was simply an IQ-challenged stoner. I mostly wrote him off as a suspect myself, because of that. I just couldn't picture him working up the motivation to get up off the couch, much less commit a murder.
But I think my "gut" knew something was very wrong with him. I assume LE (with their actual professionally-trained guts) knew he was hinky from day one...if not hour one.
am I completely losing it or didn't we know that there was a hottub at his home? I could swear we talked about the hot tub.
It has been quiet on this case for so long I could be remembering wrong.
This is the worst case I have followed here. I mean they are all terrible, but this one is so sickening. I can hardly follow the updates because each time is like a punch in the gut. I'm giving it up to God, and I pray that little Alanna is running joyfully in a field of bluebells and someday her mama will meet her again on the far side banks of Jordan.
As far as I know we never saw any pool in the Holder yard. Is there any chance she was simply submerged in a bathtub? (Sorry.) If it's a newer home it might have had those "garden" tubs, which can be quite deep. Since we know LE took water samples and spa chemicals from the Gallagher home, I wonder if it's as simple as he submerged her in a bathtub full of water, adding some kind of bleach-based household cleaner (if not bleach itself) to try to destroy evidence. So LE smells the bleach on her and thinks maybe pool or hottub (hence those water samples and the seized bathing suits).
Edit: matou, wasn't she in also inside a lawn/garbage bag? (I've forgotten now, between initial rumors + arrest warrant). If so, that might have contained most of the remaining liquid, leaving the exterior of the rolled tarp dry, in theory.