Marina Habe’s Cause of Death

The autopsy report determined Marina Habe’s cause of death to be exsanguination (severe blood loss) due to external hemorrhage, primarily caused by a severed carotid artery and multiple stab wounds to the neck and chest. The report further revealed a deep, gaping incision on the left side of her neck that completely severed the voice box. Strangulation (garrotting) was noted as a significant contributing factor.

The autopsy was performed by R. C. Henry, M.D., a Deputy Medical Examiner for Los Angeles County—not by Thomas Noguchi, the coroner who oversaw Sharon Tate’s autopsy, despite what some online sources mistakenly claim (see Appendix 2).

Sharp Force Injuries

The autopsy report for Marina Habe documents multiple stab wounds and punctate marks, concentrated in the neck and chest. While the coroner did not provide a final count, the injuries can be summarized as follows:

• Neck: 2 deep incised wounds—one on the right side of the neck and a larger one on the left, which completely severed the left common carotid artery, voice box, and vocal cords.
• Chest: 6 significant stab wounds — including two in the left upper chest, one of which went through the 2nd rib, one in the center of the chest, which penetrated the breastbone, two stab wounds on the left side, and one stab wound near the left upper arm.
• Liver: One of the chest stab wounds penetrated the left lobe of the liver on a downward trajectory. This was the deepest wound documented.

The report also documents nine punctate wounds—injuries typically caused by the tip of a sharp object, likely a knife, that did not penetrate deeply. Several of these wounds measured approximately 1/4 inch (0.6 centimeters) in diameter, while others barely broke the skin.

Their locations were recorded as follows: three on the neck—two just below the major left incision and one at the base of the right side; and six surrounding the major chest stab wounds.

Knife Characteristics

Some wounds are described as having two sharp edges, while others have one sharp edge and one rounded edge. This could indicate two different knives, but it may also reflect different uses of the same knife. A stab with a single-edged knife produces one sharp and one rounded edge, whereas a cut or slashed wound with the same knife produces two sharp edges.

However, not all slashed wounds have two sharp edges. Injuries known as “stab-slash” wounds—a stab followed by a slicing motion—can produce a wound with one sharp edge and one rounded edge. In forensic terms, such a wound would be classified as an incised-stab wound.

Based on the wound characteristics described in the autopsy report—including stabs, cuts, and stab-slash injuries—it is plausible that a single knife was used for all wounds. While the possibility of multiple knives cannot be entirely ruled out, there is no strong evidence in the wound descriptions to suggest that more than one knife was involved.

The depth of the stab wounds indicates that a knife with a blade of at least 3 to 5 inches (8 to 12 centimeters) was used. The penetration of multiple vital structures and the nature of the wounds suggest a long-bladed, non-serated, single-edged weapon, such as a kitchen or hunting knife.

Bruises, Strangulation, and Internal Injuries

The medical examiner also observed severe blunt force trauma, including bruising of both eyes, a bruise on the scalp, a bruise on the left side of the head, and a contused area across the back of the neck, consistent with strangulation by a folded cloth. A small, round, half-inch area resembling a burn was observed beneath one of the chest wounds.

The internal examination revealed swelling and excess blood in the brain, as well as a lacerated liver and collapsed lungs. The lungs collapsed due to hemothorax, where blood from chest stab wounds (approximately 350 ccs) accumulated in the chest cavity, pressing the lungs closed.

No Defensive Wounds

No defensive wounds were found on Marina Habe’s hands or arms, suggesting she was either restrained or incapacitated during the fatal knife attack. The autopsy report, however, found no marks indicating she had been tied or forcibly held down, implying that she was immobilized through other means—left vulnerable and unable to resist the attack.

The autopsy revealed deep abrasions and contusions on her neck, indicating that significant force had been applied during strangulation, likely rendering her unconscious. This incapacitation would have left her defenseless, allowing the attacker to carry out the lethal knife attack without resistance, which explains the absence of defensive wounds.

While the autopsy provided a clear cause of death, it left other questions open to interpretation—and became the source of conflicting information. One of the most sensitive and debated points was whether Marina Habe had been a victim of sexual violence.