A key point of confusion in the Marina Habe case revolves around whether she was sexually assaulted, as official statements appear to contradict later family reports. Homicide detectives reported that the coroner found no definitive evidence of sexual assault. Several newspapers also stated that the coroner had indicated Marina had not been raped.
However, Marina Habe’s stepbrother later reported that the coroner had informed the family that Marina had been raped, stating, “The coroner said she was held for a day, fed, raped, and stabbed.”1
The newspapers explicitly used the word ‘rape,’ which is likely a misunderstanding. A coroner cannot determine with 100% certainty whether a victim was raped based solely on autopsy findings.
While forensic evidence can strongly suggest sexual assault, rape is a legal determination involving lack of consent—something that cannot be conclusively proven through physical evidence alone.
One reason for the confusion may be that autopsy surgeon Dr. Russell Henry told reporters on January 3, 1969, “There was no evidence of forcible rape.” Some may have interpreted this to mean that Marina had not been raped at all.
It’s easy to assume that the absence of evidence of sexual assault means rape did not occur, but that is not necessarily the case. To better understand these discrepancies, we can turn to the autopsy report. Let’s take a closer look at its findings.
Autopsy Findings on Sexual Assault
The autopsy report addressed the possibility of both consensual intercourse and sexual abuse. It noted dilation of the vagina, which means an enlarged vaginal opening. Several factors can cause this, including natural relaxation of muscles after death and recent sexual intercourse. However, vaginal dilation can also be a potential indicator of sexual assault.
Similarly, the report noted dilation of the anus, which can also be caused by muscle relaxation after death or sexual activity, including assault. A contusion (bruise) was observed around the anal ring. The presence of a contusion suggests that some form of trauma has occurred in the anal region. This could indicate sexual abuse, but other factors might also cause it.
The report found no apparent trauma to the cervix (the lower end of the uterus that connects to the vagina) or the vaginal lining. While the absence of trauma might suggest that no sexual assault occurred, it doesn’t definitively rule it out. It is important to note that not all cases of rape leave clear physical evidence, which can make such determinations challenging.
While there are signs that could suggest sexual abuse (such as the bruise and dilation), the absence of clear trauma (especially in the cervix and vaginal lining) and the possible alternative causes for these findings mean that the evidence does not meet the threshold for a definitive diagnosis of sexual abuse.
In terms of sexual assault, the autopsy report is inconclusive. This means Marina could have been sexually assaulted, or she could have had consensual sexual intercourse. However, there was no evidence of forcible sexual assault.
If the coroner told the family that Marina Habe had been raped, it could suggest that, even without definitive proof, investigators strongly suspected it or were using it as their working theory.
Could Hornburg Be the Source of Vaginal Dilation?
Marina Habe and John Hornburg returned to his home around 11:30 p.m., and she reportedly left around 3:15 a.m. This timeline has prompted speculation regarding whether the two were more romantically involved than her family realized, and whether the vaginal dilation noted in the autopsy report could have resulted from consensual intercourse with Hornburg that night.
Further supporting this theory is the fact that Marina undressed during her time with Hornburg. She had two sets of clothing with her: her date clothes and her regular outfit. She went to Hornburg’s late in the afternoon, changed into her date clothes at his house before they went out, and changed back into her regular clothes after they left the Troubadour.
Vaginal and anal dilation were noted during Marina’s autopsy. As discussed, dilation can result from recent sexual intercourse, sexual assault, or the natural relaxation of muscles after death.
However, dilation associated with sexual intercourse—whether consensual or forced—typically subsides within several hours. Based on the autopsy findings, Marina was likely killed approximately 48 hours after she was last seen.
Given the timeframe, it is highly unlikely that the dilation was caused by intercourse on the night she disappeared. This effectively rules out consensual intercourse with Hornburg on that night as the source of the dilation.
- –The Charlie Conspiracy, 1988, Lamag.com
*Archived copy of the original page ↩︎