PCP, not Taser, caused death of man who killed pastor in Forest Hill, ME says

PCP ingestion is what caused the death of the man who fatally beat a Forest Hill minister with an electric guitar in October, the Tarrant County medical examiner ruled Tuesday.

Derrick Birdow's "sudden death [was] associated with phencyclidine ingestion," and the manner of death was accidental, Medical Examiner Nizam Peerwani ruled.

"We suspected very early on, based on his behavior, that we might be looking at PCP, just based on prior experience and our knowledge of that drug," Forest Hill police Chief Dan Dennis said Tuesday.

Peerwani did not find that the Taser shocks contributed to Birdow's death, said Linda Anderson, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office.

Dennis said the autopsy found only one puncture wound from the Taser in Birdow's body, indicating that only one of the Taser's two prongs made contact.

PCP is an illegal drug abused for hallucinogenic effect. It often causes severe mood disorders, paranoia and hostility, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Its effects on the body "can be accompanied by a sense of strength and invulnerability," according to a DEA online fact sheet.

Read more in Deanna Boyd's report.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/02/12/4617078/forest-hill-pastors-killer-was.html#storylink=cpy

Comments

[Texas Jack]

OMG!!! what are the bedwetting moronic libs going to cry about now. They are in favor of drugs and crime...just not criminals being punished or drugs outlawed

[Fausta]

Surely the autopsy mentioned anatomical observations that establish the "immediate" cause of death like the Phencyclidine % concentrations in the blood and tissues and indications of primary respiratory depression such as Pulmonary edema.

"the manner of death was accidental"? What was the accident, being tased too many times or for to long? How did they establish anything in this case was "accidental" which implys there was a miscalculation. "unintend consequence" might be a better description of what happened. If he died of a drug overdose which they may be loosely suggesting, was that an "accident"?

There is something unsatisfying about this article, I am not sure if it's the reporting or the autopsy report. The ST should attach a copy of the autopsy report, the Texas Public Information Act deems autopsies public information.

[Fausta]

ST,

Thank you for clearing up the issues in this article which has apparently been rewritten more than once to clear up some vague statements and imprecise language.

[Choderus]

That's some pretty stupid stuff there, Texas Jack.