Things you couldn’t make up if you tried – Part I
I think the best way to explain what happened the first time I encountered Larry Vineyard is to share an email with you.
To let you know the background: Henry’s autopsy was released in mid August. In early September, the local newspaper ran a story about the fact that it had been released, and about how Henry had died of an overdose, not because of physical injuries. (A non-issue, as far as our family was concerned)
In November, I summoned the strength to sit down and read Henry’s autopsy in depth one more time, this time trying to figure out why the toxicology report did not list drugs I knew he had taken in the day or two preceding the overdose (turns out that’s because no real toxicology report was done. But that’s another story.)
In re-reading Henry’s autopsy 6 months after his death, I noticed something for the very first time. The report appeared to say that Henry’s brain had not been released to us with the rest of his body when the autopsy was complete. Instead, what it said was that it had been retained and “fixed in formalin.”
I Googled the language to see if I was reading what I thought I was reading. I emailed the autopsy to two close friends – an MD and a nursing professor at Vanderbilt – to ask them if that line in the autopsy could possibly mean what it appeared to me. I just could not believe that I could be interpreting this correctly, since no one from any agency had EVER asked or even INFORMED Henry’s father and me that his body was missing his brain when it was released to us for funeral preparations. So I did not want to believe what I was reading in that autopsy report. How could this even be possible?
But after doing a little research, I realized that indeed, it appeared that my son’s brain was not with his body, and that if I had not noticed this myself in a line buried in his autopsy, no one ever would have told me. I never would have known.
And that led to another horrifying realization, if it wasn’t where I’d assumed it was, where was my child’s beautiful brain? Who had it, and why?
So I pulled myself together, willing myself not to become hysterically upset, and did the only thing I knew how to do: I started trying to track down Henry’s missing brain.
Here’s the email I sent my mother and siblings, plus a few close friends at 1:30 pm EST on November 23, 2010. I have redacted one name (from the DA’s office).
After that horrifying conversation with Mr. Vineyard, I cried for several days straight, and I then emailed the Knox County ME directly to try to track down my child’s missing brain. She responded. As it turned out, her office HAD removed and kept my son’s brain without even informing us, leaving us to believe that the body released to us, the body we cremated, was whole when it was not.
However, my son’s brain had not been “shipped to a specialist in Rochester.” Mr. Vineyard had told me that without checking any records, and he was wrong. He was apparently simply too busy to get his facts straight when speaking with a mother trying to track down her dead teenager’s missing vital organs.
What happened with Henry’s brain being kept without anyone so much as TELLING us was bad enough, but Mr. Vineyard’s cruel and callous treatment of me when I called seeking answers made it much, much worse.
39 Responses to “Things You Couldn’t Make Up If You Tried – Part 2”
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In the UK you cannot take body parts without the consent of families (search Liverpool Alder Hey organ scandal or similiar). This throws so much by way of medical ethics. I don’t know what the deal is that side of the pond, but some ethics are universal (roots in Hippocratic Oath which evolved), and it is really not okay to take organs without consent.
Some body needs complaining to re professional ethics, both from lack of consent to conduct.
There is a lesson for all of us re unchecked power; this behaviour from public servants is utterly disgraceful. If they can’t handle the privilege, leave.
I had read about Henry’s brain going missing before, but I’d forgotten about it – there is so much crap, that it got lost in the rest of the information. Which is exactly the point, a nightmare that looks like it is ever expanding. Expansion cannot be infinite, something eventually has to give.
Again, I’m so sorry that you have to deal with this.
Guilty conscious. Plain and simple. But, it makes him feel better about himself to puff up, turn defensive and turn the blame on you. I can’t imagine anyone with a shred of compassion or ethics could look back at that behavior and think they had done their best.
This is horrifying. I can’t believe they could keep part of Henry’s body without permission!!! It’s outrageous! And they way this guy has treated you is unbelievable. Katie, you are tough as nails, and getting tougher all the time. I admire you so much for your resilience and ability to get through this even when you aren’t feeling tough at all. Wishing you courage, peace, and the love of family and friends (and strangers!).
Larry Vineyard deserves to rot in hell… and I hope he does. I’m holding back saying anything more as I don’t have civilized enough language to discuss that piece of garbage.
Katie, you do know that Larry Vineyard is a former police investigator, right? Bet he’s been talking with Sheriff J.J. and friends…
The Good Ol’ Boy [using the term "good" quite loosely] is alive and well in Knox County. All of the law enforcement officials and others whose roles are peripheral to theirs seem to be in one gigantic, filthy bed together.
This guy is an asshole and he should be fired. I don’t care how busy he is or how pissed off he gets, he has no right to talk to ANYONE like that! I also work for Knox County and I can’t fathom being allowed to talk to a tax paying citizen like that. My ass would be fired in a second.
What. The. F**k? I would ask if you are serious, but I know that you are. Not only does this man need to be fired, his boss should also be fired for allowing this behavior.
Good God. I can’t imagine the patience and strength you must have to deal with such heartless fools on a regular basis.
I am disgused and completely appalled of Mr Vineyard’s treatment of you. He ought to be fired for such seriously unprofessional behavior.
from what u are saying Mr.Vineyard’s behaviour seems unbelieveable. But why is everyone( the above comments) so ready to condemn him without trying or bothering to find out the other side of the story i.e whats Vineyard’s take on what happened?I think its only fair to listen to both parties before deciding whos wrong. I mean why would someone b so mad as to bahave this way without any reason.
What’s the other side? Um, read a few more posts on this site and you’ll see their view. Katie wants them to work, and they just don’t feel like it.
You are saying Katie could be lying. Sure, she could be. But how would that serve her? No one in a position to help her with Henry’s case is helping her, and if she insulted them or lied about them, there would be no question about their willingness to help in the future. She has been reluctant to even be this specific about the people involved because she has ethics and feels things can still be moved along in Henry’s case.
I sure wish we could hear their side of the story. I think that is something that is seriously lacking. I guess it could be that they can’t really discuss it – but I would love to be a fly on the wall….
Mini,
Excellent point. We have been wondering why we have met with such hostility for a year now. As Henry’s family, all we are asking for is an investigation into his death. We have been met with hostility, lies, and very public slaps by the KCSO. If you can find out for us the other side of the story we would be more than happy to understand what is going on. Maybe with your help we can have better communication and therefore progress.
Thank you,
Carol Hickman, Henry’s Aunt
Yes, why WOULD someone be so mad as to behave like this without reason? That really is the underlying question, isn’t it? I know I’m not in the minority when I suggest that Mr. Vineyard wasn’t being rude and unreasonable because he was busy and felt Katie was “bothering” him. There is something going on that is making him feel defensive and perhaps guilty. Now… hmm… what could that be?????
Mini – I get what you are saying, however, as a County employee you just can’t talk to people like that. We are here to serve the public (and believe me, it can be a pain sometimes) but under no circumstance should you talk to anyone the way he talked to Katie.
First off Mini, he has no right EVER screaming at anyone. He is in a profession that is supposed to be professional and I would think compassionate. Let’s say for one instant, that Katie is annoying (hypothetical of course) it doesn’t matter!! He has every right to go home and bitch to his wife about the crazy that came through the door today or called.
She is both a customer and in most respects a employer (seeing as her taxes pay the jackass) He is wrong and in need of anger management.
Now as for keeping the brain…..if we have to sign to be organ donors, why wouldn’t you at least have to be informed they are keeping the brain.
Dude. First of all, it is never, ever acceptable for a government employee (and that is what he is) to scream at or insult a tax paying citizen in the course of his or her job, regardless of how irritating he or she finds this person. Anyone else would be disciplined or fired for such behavior. It is indicative of anger issues that require counseling. Second, if Mr. Vineyard is, in fact, a former police investigator as commenter anon says above, this matter needs to be looked into further, as I am really beginning to have some concerns about the ethics of the Sheriff’s office in Knox County. I have some suspicions that this may result in a major scandal if all the facts finally come out.
This man’s behaviour is vile and disturbing. The level of unprofessional behaviour you have experienced at every turn points to something dark beneath the surface, as I am sure you know by now. As someone who is about to graduate from law school and has worked in and extensively studied criminal law (albeit in another jurisdiction), I would say that while it isn’t uncommon to come across bad apples or stubborn people unwilling to listen or correct their mistakes, what you have recounted on your blog over the last 12+ months appears to clearly be some kind of larger, systemic problem that needs to be exposed. Please keep going, and God bless you and your family and especially Henry.
Wow. Just…wow. Katie, every time you post another episode in this long, torturous tale I think, ok, so that must be the worse of it. But then there’s more, and more. Such incompetence, such callousness, such disdain, such cruelty…and the citizens of Knox County are paying for this. (And how many other cases have been handled like this?) I think about you, your family, and your efforts often. I hope the tide turns soon and someone in authority steps up and acts like a responsible public servant, with a heart and a soul.
I have a suspicion, though of course I could be completely wrong. Maybe someone who lives nearer TN can correct me.
Is Knox County run by a political machine? One with a vested interest in schemes like Y&R’s?
I’ve done some digging online, and it *appears* that everyone Katie has had to deal with is either appointed by the council or has been hired by someone who is. Am I mistaken?
They seem to be completely unfussed about this rising scandal. Mass indifference across multiple organizations at this level just seems more and more as if it *has* to be coordinated.
Now I read of this, and google ‘+”Larry Vineyard” +Knox’, and it begins to look as if maybe the man has anger management and bullying issues severe enough to lead to termination as a Detective, yet possibly was instead laterally transferred to a position intended to diminish his contact with the public. Carry that paranoid thought one step further and I, at least, see employment based on patronage rather than merit.
Have I lapsed into conspiracy theorist la-la land? Can someone set me straight?
No, Grace, I don’t think anyone can set you any straighter than you are. You see this is as crazy and vile as it gets. The filth touches every level of this county’s government. Gross negligence is just what you see on the surface, but these people are terrified that Katie is about to unleash the absolute truth. At this point I would not be shocked to find out that all their negligence and incompetence was intentional to cover up their (or their good buddy’s) involvement in the the types of activities that she is exposing and demanding they investigate.
His behavior makes me embarrassed to be from Knoxville.
Katie, I am so sorry you have been treated like this. Big hugs to you and your family.
Regarding the autopsy report, I’d like to believe that MEs do not relate pieces of information that families might find upsetting (such as an unknown pregnancy or the need to retain organs for further study) for humanitarian reasons (such as not wanting to add to grief), but even if that’s the case then I would say that MEs need to learn that it is not their place to keep secrets from the family. Some families, like you did, Katie, might actually read the autopsy and be even more hurt. And there’s also the fact that such an attitude is patronizing. Potentially upsetting information should be relayed GENTLY, but it should still be relayed.
Regarding Vineyard, if reports you’ve received here of his background as a police investigator are accurate, then his behavior makes sense in a revolting sort of way: Police stick up for their own. They don’t treat kindly anyone who “threatens” one of the brotherhood. Given the nature of their highly dangerous work, this can be a virtue — but it can also be corrupted when individual officers fail to distinguish between true threats to their lives and reasonable reviews of their work (which could be seen as “threatening” their livelihoods).
In any case, Vineyard has behaved abomnably and I hope you are able to provide accounts of his behavior to his superiors for review and possible action. God bless you, Katie; stay strong and keep fighting!
I believe his behavior is 100% unacceptable. I wish I lived in Knox County because I would start a movement to have him removed from his position. And I would enlist Brandy’s help! Total ass.
These posts are almost unbareable to read, I have no idea how you are living this nightmare. Something has got to give, someone out there in a higher jurisdiction (FBI, State level) has got to start asking some questions about how this case was handled. Sigh!!
Oh my holy heck, is there an upper level professional in any part of Knox County?!?!?! How is it possible there is yet another incompetitent, and RUDE person there. People of Knox County need to seriously examine their candidates next election season.
Katie, I am so very sorry this is happening to you and continuing to happen to you. I’m sending you all my patience and strength, seems like you need it more than I do.
Yes, his case is just one of many they deal with, don’t you know? And that’s why they gave an explicit interview to the KNS about this case… you know, like they do for every single case they handle. I mean, you know… duh.
Jessica – Thank you so, so much for pointing this out.
-Katie
“…he began yelling at me, telling me he was tired of me bothering them and expecting special treatment.”
Since you had not contacted Mr. Vineyard or his office to that point in time… I wonder who, exactly, was expecting special treatment from him with regard to Henry’s case? I hate to go all “conspiracy theory” about this… but you are right that this man seems to have been overly agitated about something that did not directly involve you.
Go get ‘em, Katie. You are so very close and this excuse for a man knows it.
Henry would be so sad that his mama was subjected to this. Actually, he would be sad and very angry.
Henry Story could have greater affect on people, if these blogs stop attacking one man make it about the story not the gossip. It is what it is.
“what it is” is the complete failure of the justice system in Knoxville. Part of the effect Henry’s story will have is helping to correct this failure, to ensure justice and public safety for others. It’s not gossip- the consistently unprofessional behavior of Knox County officials has made it part of “the story”.
I had the same experience as you—that is, when I received my husband’s autopsy report 3 months after he had died, I discovered that his brain had been removed for further study, and that the study of his brain had been conducted three weeks after I had buried my husband. I felt frantic. Where was his brain?? I called the medical examiner. We spoke. I’m writing to you now to let you know what I was able to do. I was able to get my husband’s brain (even though the folks in my life were telling me to just “leave it”.) For me it was unbearable–that it should be in a jar , preserved in formaldehyde at the medical examiner’s office. I was able to get his brain released. I was able to have his grave opened, and bury his brain with his body. You should also be able to find out what the additional study of your son’s brain will show. In my husband’s case, the specific autopsy of his brain showed “sub-arachnoid hemorrhaging” –something I had never heard of. I am sorry that you are being met with such–anger and animosity–I wish you peace
I’m SO sorry, I promise to pray for you
Katie, ever since you first blogged about the separation of Henry’s remains, I’ve been aching for you and your whole family. These details make me even more upset about what you have gone through. I’m hoping the tale concludes with a respectful and peaceful return of your son’s remains.
I have no words. I am disgusted by the way that you, Henry, and the rest of your family has been treated. We have never met, but know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Please reconsider and put this on the Justice for Henry site. It is all intertwined and I wouldn’t had known this if I hadn’t stumbled upon it. People over on the other site need to see this and Part One. It’s just another example of the government d*&ks at work…and I don’t mean ducks!!!
I have never heard about the loss of Henry’s remains before now and it hurts me to no end. If it was my child, I would be so hurt on that fact alone, nevermind all the rest of what you’ve been dealing with. Keep up the fight.