MONROVIA – An independent autopsy report has concluded that there was “no foul play” in Odell Sherman’s death. Odell Sherman, a 21-year-old student at the Harriet Bailey United Methodist School, was taken to the ELWA hospital on May 21, 2019, after being found unconscious in an unfinished building owned by Rev. Emmanuel Giddings of Duazon, Paynesville, Liberia.
Tragically, Odell Sherman was pronounced dead while receiving treatment at the hospital. Since her death, there have been conflicting accounts regarding the cause of her death.
Speculation arose that Odell Sherman may have died as a result of being gang-raped on May 21, 2019, when she went out after completing her West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) exam. The death certificate from the ELWA hospital, in possession of the Liberia National Police, indicated that Odell Sherman was bleeding from the ears, suggesting that she may have died as a result of sexual assault or a fall.
In response to the conflicting accounts and protests by the Liberia National Students Union (LINSU), the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice, accepted demands from the family of the deceased for an independent pathologist to conduct an autopsy on Odell Sherman’s remains. Liberia’s President, George Manneh Weah, also expressed concern about ensuring justice for the family and allowed them to bring a competent pathologist from anywhere in the world, with the government covering the professional fees.
Dr. Roger Mitchell, a seasoned American-based pathologist, was hired by the family to conduct the autopsy, which took place on August 13, 2019, at around 11:55 AM. The process was witnessed by several representatives, including Rev. Christopher W. Toe and Arthur F. Bease of the Liberia Council of Churches, Alphanso O. Sherman (stepfather of the deceased), Philip S. Manwue, Bernice Freeman (CSO, WANEP), C. Moses Washington (Coroner, Ministry of Justice), Hannah N. Geterminah (family member), and Vally M. Sheriff (LNP Forensic).
Following the post-mortem examination, Dr. Mitchell concluded in his final report that Odell Sherman died as a result of “Blunt Force Trauma Of The Head,” as a consequence of a fall from height. Therefore, the report concluded that Odell Sherman’s death was “Accidental” and not a “homicide.”
Meanwhile, the police have urged the public to avoid injecting sentiments into ongoing police investigations and to allow the due process of law to unfold without speculation
