PATRICK K. O’NEIL, F-ABMDI
Coroner of Will County, Illinois
March 18, 2010
For Immediate Press Release
The office of Will County Coroner Patrick K. O’Neil reporting on Thursday, March 18, 2010 the investigation of unidentified fetal remains which were discovered shortly before 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. The fetus was discovered after being washed. Employees at Premier Laundry in Joliet made the discovery. A forensic examination which took place today on Thursday, March 18, 2010 revealed the following:
- gestational age is recorded to be approximately 21 – 23 weeks
- it is unknown if the child was born dead or alive and does not appear to have been a viable birth
- the recovered tissue and fetus weighed 130 grams
- the sex and race remain unknown
- the date of birth and death are unknown – decomposition was not evident during the exam
- an attached umbilical clamp was present
- the fetus was accompanied with linens that bore the name “Resurrection Health Care”
The Joliet Police and Chicago Police departments are investigating the incident which does not appear to be a criminal matter. DNA samples were collected in an effort to make a positive identification.
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March 12, 2010
It is with much sadness that we inform you of the death of Bryan R. Mitchell, M.D. Dr. Bryan Mitchell has been the chief pathologist for the Will County Coroner’s Office for the past 12 years. More compassionately known in Will County as Dr. Bryan, he befriended all those who worked in the forensic community to include hospital staff, law enforcement, prosecutors, and funeral directors.
Dr. Mitchell received his undergraduate degree at Loyola University in Chicago. He received his medical degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in 1991. His postgraduate studies were at the University of Chicago Hospitals as a pathology resident, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center as a pathology resident and serving a fellowship in forensic pathology at the Office of the Medical Examiner in Cook County. Dr. Mitchell is a certified Diplomat of the American Board of Pathology, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and Forensic Pathology.
Dr. Mitchell volunteered his time as a guest lecturer at multiple medicolegal death investigation seminars, trauma conferences and medical center symposiums. Additionally, he was a physician for Human Rights in the United Nations where he autopsied war crime victims in Croatia in 1996. His professional organizations included the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, College of American Pathologists, National Association of Medical Examiners and Illinois Society of Pathologists. Dr. Mitchell was also a distinguished member of the Illinois Coroners and Medical Examiners Association where he developed new guidelines for coroners and medical examiners. He was also instrumental in designing the new morgue complex in Kankakee county.
Dr. Mitchell had performed over 3,000 autopsies for our office and the citizens of Will County during his professional time with us. Additionally, he was the pathologist for the counties of LaSalle, Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, Kane, McLean, Livingston, Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, Vermilion, DeKalb, Putnam, Lee, Peoria, Coles, Logan and DeWitt.
Funeral arrangements for Bryan R. Mitchell, M.D. are at the Coglianese Funeral, Home, 7508 S. County Line Road, Burr Ridge, IL; 630-654-8484 or www.coglianese.com. Visitation is Sunday, March 14, 2010 – 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. The funeral will be from the funeral home to St. John of the Cross Church with Mass at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, March 15.
Expressions of sympathy can be in the form of donations in his name to the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC1140, Chicago, IL 60637.