PARENTS AGAINST CORRUPTION AND COVER-UP e-mail: tburkett@clark.net PACC Home Page. FBI. Anatomy of a Coverup. Other Virginia Officials Local Officials. _________________________________________________________________ Medical examiner gives contradictory testimony in Foster and Burkett cases by Tom Burkett Dr. James Beyer, the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the Northern Virginia Region, did the autopsy in the case of White House aide Vincent Foster in 1993. He also was responsible for the autopsy in the Tommy Burkett case. He conducted that autopsy on Dec. 3, 1991, one day after the medical examiner's report identifying the manner of death as suicide was signed and dated. Beyer testified before the Senate Banking Committee Whitewater Hearings on July 29, 1994. His comments regarding his conclusions in the Foster case create a troubling picture of inconsistency and double-talk, especially when compared to his statements in the Burkett case. Dr. Beyer specifically identified two items as leading him to a conclusion of suicide in the Foster case. One was the presence of "abundant powder residue in the wound;" the other was the absence of trauma to the jaw. In the Burkett case, Beyer's own report acknowledges the absence of powder residue in the area of the wound. In the Burkett case, Beyer failed to identify a broken lower jaw, visible battering of the right ear, and abrasions on the chest. These items were visible to the naked eye, and have been recorded in a second autopsy. Dr. Beyer seems to want it both ways. If the presence of powder residue was evidence to Dr. Beyer of suicide in the Foster case, why was the absence of powder residue not evidence of homicide in the Burkett case? If the absence of trauma to the jaw was evidence of suicide in the Foster case why was the presence of trauma to the jaw as well as other visible injuries to the ear and chest not evidence of homicide in the Burkett case? [INLINE] Dr. Beyer also seems to have great difficulty keeping track of what procedures he actually completes. In his Senate testimony, Dr. Beyer tried to explain missing X-rays. The Park Police said he had discussed X-rays with them. His autopsy report indicates that X-rays were taken. But he testified before the Banking Committee that no X-rays were taken. He said he had no explanation for the Park Police statement that he had discussed X-rays with them. He also said he inadvertently checked this procedure on the report even though the X-ray machine had been malfunctioning for 15 days. In the Burkett case, "photography" is noted on the wound chart as having been done, and Dr. Beyer showed Tommy's father photographs of the body in the medical examiner's office on Jan. 2, 1992. He has since denied in writing that any photos were taken except for a close-up of the face. In Dec. of 1993, a conviction for manslaughter was obtained against the killer of another of Beyer's "suicides"--Timmy Easley, murdered in Centreville, Va. in 1989. In that case, Dr. Beyer overlooked an injury to the back of the hand, later identified by another pathologist as a typical defense wound in a stabbing. CALL THE HOUSE AND SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEES AND ASK FOR HEARINGS ON THE FBI HANDLING OF THIS CASE. THE FOLLOWING 800 NUMBERS WILL CONNECT YOU TO THE CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD. JUST ASK FOR THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE OFFICES. 1-800-962-3524, 1-800-972-3524.