The Chief Medical Examiner's Office has issued the following statement regarding the death of Mr. Donald W. Davis in Richmond County on October 16, 2001. If you have further questions please contact my office at 919-733-5027.

"An autopsy was performed on Donald W. Davis the afternoon of October 17, 2001, following his collapse while in law enforcement custody. A urine screen was positive for cocaine at a local hospital during resuscitative efforts.

Autopsy examination does not show evidence of significant injury. There are no autopsy findings to explain the death. The minor injury that is present did not contribute to his death. A small, open plastic bag was found in his stomach, still containing a small amount of a white substance.

Considering the clinical history, the positive urine cocaine, the lack of an anatomic cause of death, and the presence of the plastic bag in his stomach, it is likely that this death is due to a cocaine overdose. A definitive statement concerning the cause of death will not be available until after toxicology testing is completed."

Thomas B. Clark III, MD