O'Connell was found dead on the floor of her boyfriend’s St. Johns County home in 2010. That boyfriend is Jeremy Banks, a St. John's County Sheriff's Deputy.
Investigators previously ruled that death a suicide, but the family believes O'Connell did not kill herself — and they exhumed her body from the grave to prove their point.
“It's like a living roller coaster,” says Sean O’Connell, Michelle’s brother. “Hopefully, this will keep moving our family to the direction we want, which is a grand jury."
In January, Connell’s body was removed from its resting place.
The autopsy findings were detailed Monday on the syndicated program Crime Watch Daily.
Document: Dr. Westberry and Dr. Cohrn autopsy report
Dr. William Anderson performed the procedure and says he discovered a fractured jaw that he says could not have been from a gun recoiling.
"The only explanation is that the individual was struck by a fist or stock of a gun or flat object in front of the jaw with enough force to break the jaw," Dr. Anderson said.
Police say O'Connell shot herself in the mouth. Banks, was cleared of any wrongdoing by local and state investigators.
St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar released a scathing statement about the autopsy results:
“I would ask him what he would do in our situation if he had a child that was murdered and law enforcement agency didn't do their job, didn't knock on one door,” O’Connell said. “I'll ask him what he would be doing be in the same position we are.”
The family released a statement that said in part,
Today is the first step in realizing Justice for Michelle O'Connell. While we were hopeful for the process, it was disappointing that Sheriff Shoar has created controversy over what is an independent investigation, and his statement politicizes the death of a young woman whose family still grieves over the loss of their daughter, sister, and mother. The family is seeking answers and justice to which all citizens are entitled, in which Sheriff Shoar's office is sworn to uphold. Publicly ridiculing the actions of honored law enforcement officers and verified experts with years of experience is counterproductive."
They also said Anderson's report, which was done without compensation, speaks volumes about the mistakes made in the previous investigation and sheds light on Michelle O'Connell's cause of death.
The next step is a review of the new finding by the Medical Examiner's Board of the State of Florida.
Cox Media Group
