# Dyatlov Pass — the forensic record of criminal case (1959): fact table

**Scope.** Every forensic document in the 1959 case file as transcribed on dyatlovpass.com: the nine autopsy reports (sheets 95-134, 345-357), the histology (358-361), the resolution ordering radiological testing (370) and the radiological expertise (371-377), the interrogation of forensic expert Vozrozhdenny (381-383), the forensic passages of the resolution closing the case (384-387), and the forensic items in case-file volume 2. Scene and search documents are handled elsewhere and are cited here only where a forensic document itself quotes them.

**Method.** Each page was fetched in Russian and in English (working copies of the raw HTML and text are not included in this folder). The Russian transcription is treated as the primary text; the English is the site's translation and was checked against it. Where the transcription of the radiological tables lost the numeric columns, the numbers were read directly from the scans (sheets 372 back, 373 back, 374, 376, 377). Russian is quoted («…») wherever the wording is load-bearing. Sheet = «Лист» (L.) of the case file. Discrepancies between the Russian and English, and between documents, are collected in `case-file-forensic-conflicts.md`.

**Examiners.** Boris Alekseevich Vozrozhdenny (b. 1922, Gomel; graduated Sverdlovsk State Medical Institute 1954; forensic expert of the Sverdlovsk Regional Bureau of Forensic Medicine), assisted on 4 March 1959 by Yu. I. Laptev (forensic expert of the city of Severouralsk). Histology: forensic expert Ganz (Ганц), histological department of the Regional Bureau. Radiology: Levashov, Chief Radiologist of the city of Sverdlovsk, radiological laboratory of the Sverdlovsk City Sanitary-Epidemiological Station. All autopsies were done in the morgue of the central hospital / medical unit of п/я (PO Box) Н-240, Ivdel, in daylight.

---

## 0. One-page summary

| Victim (age in report) | Where found (per closing resolution L.386) | Found | Cause of death as stated in the Act | Major injuries recorded | Clothing at autopsy (torso / legs / feet / head) | Stomach contents; bladder | Radiation tested? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Igor Dyatlov** (23), Act №1, 4 Mar 1959, 175 cm | 300 m from the cedar fire toward the tent, on his back, head toward the tent, arm around a birch | 26 Feb 1959 per the resolution's paragraph (L.386); exact dates are in the scene documents | Low temperature (freezing): meningeal oedema, sharp hyperaemia of organs, heart cavities overfilled with liquid dark blood, Vishnevsky spots, overfilled bladder, III-IV degree frostbite of fingers/toes | Abrasions of forehead, brows, eyelids, nose, cheeks; abrasions on knuckles with subcutaneous hemorrhage; abrasions both ankles with hemorrhage; superficial transverse cuts on palmar side of fingers 2-5 of left hand; lower central incisor absent (old). Skull and skeleton intact | 4 torso layers (fur sleeveless jacket, vigogne sweater, checked shirt, knitted vest) / 3 (fleece ski trousers, flannelette sports trousers, satin underpants) / socks only, no footwear / no head cover. Watch «Звезда» 5:31 | ~100 cm³ liquid mucous mass, brown-reddish, sour smell; bladder up to **1 litre** | No |
| **Zinaida Kolmogorova** (22), Act №4, 4 Mar 1959, 162 cm | 150 m above Slobodin on the line fire→tent, face down, "pose of crawling toward the tent" | 26 Feb 1959 per the resolution's paragraph (L.386); exact date in the scene documents | Low temperature (freezing): meningeal oedema, sharp hyperaemia, liquid dark blood in heart, Vishnevsky spots, III-IV degree frostbite of finger tips | Multiple facial abrasions (right frontal eminence 2x1.5; right temporo-zygomatic 5x5; nose; cheeks up to 6x2); knuckle abrasions both hands; 3x2.2 cm wound with scalped skin flap at base of right 3rd finger; bright-red strip abrasion 29x6 cm right lumbar/flank/abdomen; lower limbs "without visible injuries". Skull intact | 5 torso layers (2 sweaters – both inside out –, shirt, long-sleeve vest, bra) + protective mask under shirt / 5 (ski trousers, sports trousers, fleece leggings, cotton tights, briefs) / 2 layers of socks, fur insoles, no footwear / 2 hats | Traces of foamy mucous mass, dirty yellow; bladder up to 300 cm³ | No |
| **Rustem Slobodin** (23), Act №5, 8 Mar 1959, height not recorded | 180 m above Dyatlov, face down, "pose of crawling" | early Mar 1959 (not dated in the forensic record; autopsy decree 7 Mar) | Low temperature (freezing): meningeal oedema, hyperaemia, Vishnevsky spots, III-IV degree frostbite of fingers. Skull fracture "could have arisen from a fall"; "undoubtedly caused short-term stunning" and "favoured faster freezing" | **Linear fracture of the left frontal bone** running from the anterior edge of the left temporal squama forward/upward, length up to 6 cm, gap up to 0.1 cm, 1.5 cm from the sagittal suture; temporo-parietal sutures diverged both sides (marked post-mortem); diffuse scalp hemorrhages right fronto-temporal and both temporal muscles; 75 cm³ bloody fluid under dura; hemorrhage 0.3x0.4 under bone plate of left petrous pyramid; multiple facial abrasions with hemorrhage; knuckle abrasions 8x1.5 cm; ulnar-edge abrasion left hand 6x2; epidermis missing on right forearm; bath-skin feet; up to 1 l bloody effusion in pleural cavities | 4 torso layers (sweater, checked shirt, brushed undershirt, long-sleeve vest; two felt insoles on chest) / 4 (ski trousers, sateen training trousers, brushed long johns, underpants) / right foot: valenok over 4 socks; left: 4 socks, no valenok / no head cover. Watch «Звезда» 8:45 | ~100 cm³ mucous mass, brown-yellow; bladder up to 200 cm³ | No |
| **Yuri Doroshenko** (21), Act №2, 4 Mar 1959, 180 cm | Under the cedar by the fire, 1500 m from the tent, "stripped to underwear" | 26 Feb 1959 | Low temperature (freezing): meningeal oedema, sharp hyperaemia, heart overfilled, Vishnevsky spots, overfilled bladder, III-IV degree frostbite of fingers/toes. Injuries "slight, without disorder of health" | Burnt hair tips right temporo-parietal/occipital; grey foamy fluid on right cheek and from mouth; hemorrhage 1.5x2 in upper lip; ear tragus/lobe parchment areas; abrasions right upper arm (some without hemorrhage), stripe abrasions with "sliding traces" left elbow; 2x1.5 abrasion 2nd metacarpal with hemorrhage; 0.6x0.5 skin wound left forearm with hemorrhage; shin abrasions 8x4 and 5x1.5. Skeleton intact | 2 torso layers (short-sleeved checked shirt, sleeveless vest) / long johns (torn 22x33 and 13x13) over 2 pairs of underpants / left: 2 knitted socks + wool sock (burned 2x5); right: sock remnant + wool sock / none | ~150 cm³ liquid mucous mass, brown-red, sour smell; bladder ~150 cm³ | No |
| **Georgiy (Yuri) Krivonischenko** (23), Act №3, 4 Mar 1959, 169 cm | Under the cedar by the fire with Doroshenko | 26 Feb 1959 | Low temperature (freezing): as Doroshenko, plus "burn of II-III degree /at the campfire/" | Burn 31x10 cm whole outer left shin, charred lower third with burst skin; charred left 2nd toe; burned left hand fingers; **scalped (avulsion) wound 8x2 across back of left hand**; soft-tissue defect of nose tip 1.8x2 to cartilage; pale-grey epidermis flap 1.8x0.6 with papillary lines behind lower teeth matching a defect on the middle phalanx of the right 3rd finger; diffuse hemorrhage into right temporal muscle and occipital scalp; three linear 1.5x0.4 cm wounds inner upper left thigh; abrasions right chest/hypochondrium without hemorrhage. Skull intact | 2 torso layers (checked shirt, undershirt) / long johns (left leg burnt off to the knee), swim briefs / left: one charred sock; right: nothing / none | Traces of mucous mass, brown-yellowish; bladder up to **500 cm³** | No |
| **Aleksander Kolevatov** (24), Act №1 of 9 May 1959, 174 cm | Ravine, 75 m from the fire, under 4-4.5 m of snow, with the other three | 4 May 1959 | Low temperature. Head soft-tissue defects and bath skin = post-mortem changes of a body lately in water | Wound 3x1.5x0.5 behind right ear reaching the mastoid; neck "deformed in the region of the thyroid cartilage"; nasal cartilage soft, unusually mobile, base flattened; soft-tissue defect right cheek 4x5.5 to the mandible; orbital/brow soft tissue absent, eyeballs shrunken, sunken; 25x15 depression of soft tissue outer right thigh **without** hemorrhage; diffuse hemorrhage inner left knee; 500 cm³ bloody fluid in pleural cavities. Skull, limb bones intact | 5 torso layers (sweater worn OVER a zipped ski jacket, 2nd sweater, checked shirt, brushed undershirt) / 4 (canvas bib-overalls, baize ski trousers, long johns, underpants) / wool socks (burned) + cotton socks, left foot 3 cotton socks + gauze bandage at ankle; no footwear / none recorded | Up to 100 cm³ mucous mass, pale red; bladder up to **700 cm³** | Yes (№1) |
| **Semyon (Aleksander) Zolotaryov** (37), Act №2 of 9 May 1959, 172 cm | Ravine | 4 May 1959 | Multiple fractures of right ribs with internal bleeding into the pleural cavity, in the presence of low temperature. Fractures in-life, "result of great force on the chest at the moment of his fall, compression or being thrown" | **Ribs II-VI right, fractured along the parasternal and mid-axillary lines**, hemorrhage into intercostal muscles; up to 1 l liquid dark blood in pleural cavities; eyeballs absent, orbits gaping; soft-tissue defect 8x6 right parietal to bone; brow/orbit defect 7x6; bath skin. Skull, nasal bones intact | 5 torso layers (sheepskin waistcoat, baize jacket, cotton sweater, 2 vests) / canvas bib-overalls, 2 pairs of baize ski trousers, swim trunks inside out over underpants / quilted burki with 1 (R) and 2 (L) socks / ushanka, knitted cap, scarf, tourist mask. Compass on left arm. Tattoos | Traces of mucous mass, pale reddish; bladder up to 500 cm³ | Yes (№2) |
| **Nikolay Thibeaux-Brignolle** (23), Act №3 (RU transcription "№ 8") of 9 May 1959, 174 cm | Ravine | 4 May 1959 | Closed comminuted depressed fracture of the vault and base of the skull with abundant hemorrhage under the meninges and into the brain, in the presence of low temperature. In-life; "result of great force with subsequent fall, throw and bruising" | Diffuse hemorrhage into right temporal muscle; **depressed fracture right temporo-parietal, area 9x7 cm, bone defect 3x3.5x2 cm** pressed into the cranial cavity onto the dura; comminuted fracture of right temporal bone in the middle cranial fossa, fissure into anterior fossa/right supraorbital frontal bone; second fissure across the sella turcica into the left middle fossa, gap 0.1-0.4 cm; total fissure length at the base alone 17 cm; diffuse bruise 10x12 antero-inner right upper arm with hemorrhage; soft-tissue defect 3x4 upper jaw left (post-mortem); bath skin, nails shed | 3 torso layers (sheepskin canvas jacket, wool sweater inside out, knitted vest) / 3 (cloth winter trousers with belt, cotton sports trousers, underpants) / almost-new valenki over wool socks / knitted cap + canvas fur helmet. Two watches: sports 8:14:24, «Победа» 8:39 | Up to 100 cm³ mucous mass, reddish-yellow; bladder **empty** | Yes (№3) |
| **Lyudmila Dubinina** (20; histology says 21), Act №4 of 9 May 1959, 167 cm | Ravine | 4 May 1959 | Extensive hemorrhage into the right ventricle of the heart, multiple bilateral rib fractures, abundant internal bleeding into the chest cavity. In-life; "great force with subsequent fall, throw or bruise of the chest" | **Ribs II-V right along midclavicular and anterior-axillary lines; ribs II-VII left along midclavicular line**, diffuse hemorrhages into intercostal muscles; diffuse hemorrhage at manubrium right; 4x4 hemorrhage soaking the right ventricle; 1.5 l liquid dark blood in pleural cavities; **tongue absent; floor of mouth ("diaphragm of mouth and tongue") absent; hyoid horns abnormally mobile "broken"** (histology: no hemorrhage at hyoid); eyeballs absent; facial soft tissue absent over brows/nose/orbits/left temporo-zygomatic; upper lip right absent; 4x4 scalp defect left parietal; diffuse bruise 10x5 outer/anterior left thigh with hemorrhage; bath skin | 5 torso layers (2 wool sweaters, checked shirt, short-sleeve vest, bra) / torn burned cotton trousers, cotton tights torn at crotch, stockings (left down), garter belt, men's-cut underpants / left shin+foot wrapped in burned wool cardigan piece; torn socks (brown wool L; blue cotton + grey wool both); no footwear / knitted balaclava | Up to 100 cm³ mucous mass, dark reddish; **bladder not recorded** | Yes (№4) |

Ages recorded: Dyatlov 23, Kolmogorova 22, Slobodin 23, Doroshenko 21, Krivonischenko 23, Kolevatov 24, Zolotaryov 37, Thibeaux-Brignolle 23, Dubinina 20 (autopsy) / 21 (histology). Heights: Doroshenko 180, Dyatlov 175, Kolevatov 174, Thibeaux 174, Zolotaryov 172, Krivonischenko 169, Dubinina 167, Kolmogorova 162; Slobodin not measured. Build: all "правильного телосложения" (regular build); nutrition "good" (Dyatlov, Kolmogorova, Doroshenko, Krivonischenko, Dubinina) or "satisfactory" (Slobodin – fat "satisfactorily developed", Kolevatov, Zolotaryov, Thibeaux). Alcohol: "not detected" in all five March reports; no alcohol statement in any May report. Rigor mortis: "resolved" in all nine. Body temperature: never recorded. Ice on or under bodies: never mentioned in any forensic document.

---

## 1. Igor Dyatlov — Act №1, L.120-126, Vozrozhdenny & Laptev, 4 March 1959

Present: prosecutor Klinov, prosecutor-criminalist Ivanov, witnesses Gordo and Naskichev (named in header; the signature block on L.125 carries only Vozrozhdenny, Laptev, Klinov, Ivanov). Decree of 3 March 1959. (The English page mislabels this "Act №2"; the Russian is «АКТ №1».)

**F1.** Position on the table: arms abducted at the shoulders, forearms bent at the elbows and horizontal, fingers clenched into fists on the chest; head slightly thrown back; legs bent at hips and knees, toes turned inward, big toes touching. RU: «Пальцы кистей согнуты в кулаки и находятся на груди… пальцы стоп обращены во внутрь и соприкасаются между собой большими пальцами». (L.121)

**F2.** Watch: «Звезда» on the lower third of the left forearm, hands at «5 часов 31 минута». (L.121)

**F3.** Clothing, outer to inner: sleeveless fur jacket covered with blue cotton, dark grey fur; blue vigogne sweater; red cotton checked shirt with dark-grey check, 3 buttons, top two unbuttoned, cuffs buttoned with one button, breast pocket containing a packet of «стрептоцид» with 4 tablets; blue knitted sleeveless vest. Brown knitted brushed ski trousers on elastic; under them blue-green flannelette («бумазеевые») sports trousers on elastic; black satin underpants. Right foot: white wool sock over brown cotton socks; left foot: one brown cotton knee-sock («типа гольф»). No footwear, no hat, no gloves recorded. (L.121)

**F4.** Body: length 175 cm, good nutrition, well-developed muscles. Livor bluish-red on the posterior surface of neck, trunk and limbs. «Трупное окоченение разрешилось в мышечных группах суставов» (rigor resolved). Light-blond hair up to 7 cm, "box" cut. (L.121-122)

**F5.** Face: small dark-red abrasions on the frontal eminences; in the region of the **left superciliary arch** an abrasion, brown-red, parchment density, raised above the skin; skin of face bluish-red; eyes half open; small brown-red abrasions on the upper eyelids; corneas cloudy, irises grey, pupils dilated; on the bridge and tip of the nose a brown-red parchment-density area 2 x 1.5 cm; abrasions on both cheekbones under dry crust, 3 x 1.5 x 1 cm and 3 x 0.5 cm on the left, small ones on the right; lips bluish-purple, covered with dried blood; small dark-brown parchment abrasions on the left cheek. Openings of nose and mouth clean; neck unremarkable. (L.122)

**F6.** Teeth: upper teeth white, even, sparse; **lower central incisor absent «без изменения слизистой десны»** (without change of the gum mucosa — an old loss, not a fresh injury). (L.122)

**F7.** Knees: dark-red abrasions right and left, 1 x 0.5 and 0.5 x 0.5 cm, parchment density, **«без кровоизлияния в подлежащие ткани»** (no hemorrhage into underlying tissue). (L.122)

**F8.** Left ankle: on the anterior, lateral and posterior surfaces and over both malleoli, brown-red abrasions, some sunken and some level with the skin, from 1 x 0.5 up to 3 x 2.5 cm, **«с кровоизлиянием в подлежащие мягкие ткани»** (with hemorrhage — in-life). One incision made by the examiner in this area. Lower third of right shin: skin abrasion 4 x 2 cm. Lower third of right forearm, palmar side: small dark-red parchment abrasions. (L.122-123)

**F9.** Hands: back of right hand purple-grey; **over the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints (knuckles) the soft tissue is brown-purple, parchment density, covered with dry dried crusts «с кровоизлиянием в подлежащие ткани»** (with hemorrhage). Left hand brown-purple with brown-red parchment abrasions 1 x 0.5 up to 2 x 0.2 cm, abrasion on the back of fingers 2-4. (L.123)

**F10.** Palmar side of fingers 2-5 (left hand): «кожная ранка неправильно-линейной формы с ровными краями, расположенными поперечно длиннику пальцев, раны поверхностные глубиной до 0,1 (или 0,2) см» — a skin wound of irregular linear shape with even edges, running transversely to the fingers, superficial, up to 0.1 (or 0.2) cm deep. (L.123)

**F11.** «Кости и хрящи скелета при ощупывании целы» — bones and cartilages of the skeleton intact on palpation. Skull vault and base intact on opening. (L.123)

**F12.** Brain: scalp flaps moist, pale red; dura bluish, hyperaemic; pia cloudy, swollen; gyri and sulci smoothed and flattened; brain a jelly-like greenish-red mass, grey/white matter poorly distinguishable, ventricle contours indistinguishable; basal vessels unremarkable. (L.123-124)

**F13.** Chest/heart: pleural cavities free; pericardium up to 30 cm³ amber fluid; heart 12 x 10 x 7 cm, slightly fat-covered; LV 2 cm, RV 0.7 cm; **up to 250 cm³ of liquid dark blood in the heart**; valves smooth; coronaries free, lumen widened; aortic arch 8 cm. (L.124)

**F14.** Lungs: surface bluish-red, doughy; on section dark red, on pressure a large quantity of liquid dark blood and foamy bloody fluid; larynx and bronchi free; hyoid horns intact. (L.124)

**F15.** Stomach: **about 100 cm³ of liquid mucous mass, brown-reddish**; mucosa purple-red, swollen, well-folded; on the tops of the folds a large number of small hemorrhages — **Vishnevsky spots**; «Обонянием от содержимого желудка ощущался кислый запах» (sour smell). Small intestine: reddish mucous mass; colon: semi-formed light-brown faeces. (L.124-125)

**F16.** Other organs: pancreas finely lobulated purple-red; spleen flabby, 13 x 7 x 2 cm, dark cherry; liver 26 x 16 x 11 x 10 cm, hyperaemic; gall bladder 30 cm³ olive fluid; kidneys 10 x 5 x 3.5 each, layers poorly distinct; adrenal layers distinct. (L.125)

**F17.** **Bladder: up to 1 litre of cloudy light-yellow fluid** («до 1 литра»). (L.125)

**F18.** «При исследовании трупа наличие алкоголя не установлено» (no alcohol established). Parts of internal organs taken for chemical and histological examination. (L.125) — No histology or chemistry result for Dyatlov exists in the case file; see §11.

**F19. Conclusion (L.126):** «смерть ДЯТЛОВА наступила в результате низкой температуры /замерзание/ о чем свидетельствует: отек мозговых оболочек, резкое полнокровие внутренних органов, переполнение жидкой темной кровью полостей сердца, наличие пятен Вишневского на слизистой желудка, переполнение мочевого пузыря, отморожение пальцев конечностей III и IV степени.» — death from low temperature (freezing), evidenced by meningeal oedema, sharp hyperaemia of the internal organs, overfilling of the heart cavities with liquid dark blood, Vishnevsky spots, overfilled bladder, III-IV degree frostbite of the fingers/toes.

**F20.** «повреждения в виде осаднений, ссадин и кожных ран причинены тупым орудием, которые могли возникнуть в результате падения или ушиба о камни, лед и прочее. Вышеуказанные повреждения были причинены как при жизни, а также в агональном состоянии и посмертно. По характеру повреждений … относятся к разряду легких без расстройства здоровья.» — injuries caused by a blunt instrument, could have arisen from a fall or bruising against rocks, ice etc.; inflicted in life, in the agonal state and post-mortem; classed as slight injuries without disorder of health. (L.126)

**F21.** Timing: «прием пищи у него был за 6-8 часов до момента смерти» — last food intake 6-8 hours before death. «Смерть насильственная, несчастный случай» — violent death, accident. (L.126)

**F22.** Note the words «Обнаруженные» (discovered) inserted by hand twice in the conclusion (transcriber's notes). (L.126)

## 2. Zinaida Kolmogorova — Act №4, L.127-134, Vozrozhdenny & Laptev, 4 March 1959

Present: Klinov, Ivanov, witnesses Gordo, Naskichev. The Russian original spells the surname both «Колмогоровой» and «Колмагоровой».

**F23.** Position: both arms bent at the elbows; left leg more extended at knee and hip; legs together, touching at the lower third of the right shin and the inner left knee; toes extended and pointing down. (L.128)

**F24.** Head clothing: red wool hat tied under the chin with a bow; under it a blue wool knitted cap fastened to the hair with a clip. (L.128)

**F25.** Torso clothing: blue wool sweater **«одет на левую сторону»** (worn inside out), left cuff torn off; under it a long-sleeved cotton checked shirt (black, green, red check) with one left pocket, **unbuttoned**, left sleeve unbuttoned at the cuff; under the shirt on the left side of the chest **a protective mask of military pattern** («защитная маска военного образца»); under the shirt a light-red vigogne sweater with blue transverse stripes, also **worn inside out**, patches on both sleeves (one from a brown sock, one of blue cotton); blue knitted long-sleeved vest; black satin brassiere fastened with two buttons. (L.128)

**F26.** Leg clothing: black baize ski/sports trousers with side fastenings, **buttons unbuttoned**, cuffs unbuttoned, three tears on the right cuff 0.5, 1.2 and 0.3 cm deep; blue cotton sports trousers with two inner pockets, side fastenings unbuttoned, **right pocket turned out** with a brown comb missing two teeth protruding from it, black bootlace in the left pocket, elastic at the bottom; women's knitted brushed leggings («рейтузы») of illegible colour; black cotton women's tights/knickers («трико») on elastic; cotton briefs on 4 buttons. Feet: brown wool socks with fur insoles, under them blue and brown vigogne socks. No footwear. (L.128-129)

**F27.** Body: 162 cm, good nutrition, well-developed muscles; livor bluish-purple on the back; rigor resolved; dark-blond hair in two plaits tied with red silk ribbons, up to 30 cm. Skin of face and hands purple-red. (L.129)

**F28.** Face injuries: right frontal eminence — dark-red abrasion 2 x 1.5 cm, dense; next to it a pale-grey area 3 x 2 cm reaching the right eyebrow; **right temporo-zygomatic region — irregular brown-red abrasion 5 x 5 cm**; upper eyelids — abrasions 5 x 1 cm (left) and 0.5 x 0.5 (right); left eye half open, cornea cloudy, iris light brown, **Larcher spots** on the left cornea; nose bridge abrasion 1 x 0.7, tip 2 x 1 cm parchment; **cheekbones, cheeks and chin — many abrasions of various shapes under dry brown crusts, from 6 x 2 cm to 1 x 1 cm and smaller**; lips bluish-red, swollen; mouth slightly open; tongue in the mouth behind the teeth; ears pink, openings of mouth, nose, ears clean; neck unremarkable. (L.129-130)

**F29.** Breasts medium, doughy; nipples and areolae pale grey. Genitals: hymen annular with fringed free edge, admitting the tip of an adult's little finger; no vaginal discharge. (L.130)

**F30.** Hands: on the backs of both hands over the **metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints** brown-red dense abrasions 1.5 x 1 to 0.3 x 3 cm; **on the back of the right hand at the base of the 3rd finger an irregular wound 3 x 2.2 cm, angle toward the terminal phalanx, uneven edges, with a scalped skin flap** («с неровными краями и скальпированным кожным лоскутом»); terminal phalanges of left fingers 1-5 dense, dry, brown-purple; venous pattern of both arms prominent. (L.130)

**F31.** «Нижние конечности без следов видимых повреждений розовато-красного цвета» — lower limbs without visible injuries, pinkish red. (L.130)

**F32.** Trunk: «В области поясницы правой боковой поверхности туловища, правой половины живота осаднение кожи яркокрасного цвета в виде полосы размером 29 х 6 см» — a bright-red **strip-shaped skin abrasion 29 x 6 cm** running over the right lumbar region, right flank and right half of the abdomen (English page says 26 x 6). No statement about hemorrhage under it. Venous network prominent on shins and feet. (L.130)

**F33.** Skull: vault and base intact; dura bluish-grey, hyperaemic; pia cloudy, swollen; gyri smoothed and flattened; ventricles indistinguishable; brain jelly-like bluish-red. (L.130-131)

**F34.** Heart: lungs lie freely in the pleural cavities (no effusion); pericardium about 30 cm³ **amber** fluid (English wrongly says "dark liquid blood"); heart «12 х 10,6 см» (sic), fat-covered; up to 150 cm³ liquid dark blood in the heart; valves smooth; aortic arch 8 cm. Lungs bluish-red, doughy, abundant bloody fluid and dark blood on pressure; hyoid intact. (L.131)

**F35.** Stomach: «следы пенистой слизистой массы грязно-желтого цвета» — **traces** of a foamy mucous mass, dirty yellow; mucosa greyish-red, well folded, small hemorrhages — Vishnevsky spots — on the tops of the folds. (L.131)

**F36.** Liver 24 x 15 x 11 x 8, sharply hyperaemic; gall bladder 30 cm³ olive; spleen 9 x 6.2 x 2, flabby; kidneys 8 x 5 x 3 and 8 x 5 x 2.5; uterus small, dense, pale-grey on section, **traces of pale-red mucus in the uterine lumen**; adnexa unremarkable. (L.132)

**F37.** Bladder: up to 300 cm³ cloudy yellowish fluid. Alcohol not established. Organs taken for chemical and histological examination. (L.132)

**F38. Conclusion (L.134):** death «в результате низкой температуры /замерзание/ о чем свидетельствует отек мозговых оболочек, резкое полнокровие внутренних органов, жидкая темная кровь в полостях сердца, пятна Вишневского на слизистой желудка, отморожение третьей четвертой степени концевых фаланг пальцев рук» — freezing: meningeal oedema, sharp hyperaemia, liquid dark blood in the heart cavities, Vishnevsky spots, III-IV degree frostbite of the terminal phalanges of the fingers. Injuries (abrasions and skin wounds) «причинены тупым орудием, возникшие в результате падения, ушиба о камни, лед, снег» (blunt instrument; fall, bruising against rocks, ice, snow); inflicted in life, agonal state and post-mortem. Last meal 6-8 hours before death. No alcohol. «девственность КОЛМОГОРОВОЙ сохранена» (virginity preserved). Violent death, accident.

## 3. Rustem Slobodin — Act №5, L.95-103, Vozrozhdenny alone, 8 March 1959

Decree of 7 March 1959. Present: Klinov, Ivanov, witnesses Gordo and Naskichev. **Laptev did not take part** (he appears only in the four 4 March reports). The header gives the examiner as «ВОЗРОЖДЕННЫМ Б.А.».

**F39.** Position: head thrown somewhat back, chin forward and up; right arm slightly abducted, bent at a right angle at the elbow, fingers clenched into a fist; left arm drawn back and to the side, straight at the elbow; right leg bent 120° at the hip and 90° at the knee; left leg 90° at the hip and 60° at the knee; legs touching at the inner lower thigh and lower third of the shin. (L.96)

**F40.** Watch «Звезда» on the (left) arm, showing «8 часов 45 минут». (L.96)

**F41.** Torso clothing: black cotton sweater; checked shirt (black/red), 3 buttons and both cuffs fastened, left patch pocket closed with a safety pin containing passport in his name, 310 roubles (100 + 4x50 + 10) and a fountain pen; **two felt boot insoles between sweater and shirt on the chest**; warm brushed knitted undershirt («нательная теплая с начесом трикотажная рубашка») fastened with two buttons — one garment (English renders it as two); blue knitted long-sleeved vest. (L.96)

**F42.** Leg clothing: dark ski trousers (button and belt); pockets: matchbox with 43 matches, penknife on a long string, comb in a case, two strings, pencil, a cotton sock; under them blue sateen training trousers with a trade-union committee letter of 20 Jan 1959 in the back pocket; light-grey brushed long johns, all buttons fastened (a pair with the undershirt); blue sateen underpants. (L.96-97)

**F43.** Feet: right foot — black valenok, under it cotton socks, grey vigogne socks, a cotton sock, a brown vigogne sock; **left foot — no valenok, socks in the same order**. (L.97)

**F44.** Skin of face bluish-red; livor abundant bluish-red on the back of neck, trunk and limbs; **«Трупное окоченение разрешилось полностью»** (rigor fully resolved). Dark-blond curly hair up to 8 cm. Height not recorded. (L.97)

**F45.** Forehead: small brown-red parchment abrasions, slightly sunken, in the middle of the forehead; above them **two linear scratches up to 1.5 cm long under dry brown crust, parallel to the brow ridges and 0.3 cm apart**. (L.97)

**F46.** Right upper eyelid: brown-red abrasion 1 x 0.5 cm. **«В области ссадин и царапин на лице отмечается кровоизлияние в подлежащие мягкие ткани»** — in the area of the facial abrasions and scratches there is hemorrhage into the underlying soft tissue (in-life). (L.97)

**F47.** Eyes half open; corneas cloudy; irises grey-brown; pupils dilated; **Larcher spots** on the corneas. Nose: soft tissue of bridge and tip brown-red; on the tip an area under dry brown-cherry crust 1.5 x 1 cm. Lips swollen; mouth closed; **traces of dried blood discharge from the nostrils**; lip border brown-cherry, wrinkled, dry; teeth even, white; tongue in the mouth behind the teeth; mucosa of mouth and gums pale grey. (L.97-98)

**F48.** Right half of the face somewhat swollen, with many small irregular parchment abrasions under dry crust extending partly to the chin; left side small abrasions of the same kind, one 1.2 x 0.4 cm at the left zygomatic eminence. Ears bluish-red; outer edge of right ear and left ear brown-cherry, dense, parchment. Neck: small dark-red abrasions on the left. Chest cylindrical, abdomen at chest level. (L.98)

**F49.** Hands: skin of trunk and arms to the wrists bluish-pink; backs and palms of both hands brown-purple; **«В области пястно-фалангеальных суставов кистей осаднение выступающих частей мягких тканей на участках размером 8 х 1,5 см, покрытой сухой пергаментной плотности коркой ниже уровня кожи»** — over the metacarpophalangeal joints (knuckles) abrasion of the prominent soft tissue on areas 8 x 1.5 cm, dry parchment crust below skin level (English page says "wrist joint"); along the ulnar edge of the left hand a brown-cherry parchment abrasion 6 x 2 cm extending to the side of the little finger; palms bluish-purple; terminal phalanges wrinkled, dense. (L.98)

**F50.** Right forearm, lower third, back: two areas with the epidermis missing, 2.5 x 3 and 3.5 x 1.5 cm, uneven pale-red edges. Venous pattern prominent on the arms. (L.98-99)

**F51.** Genitals normal; glans purple-red, dense, wrinkled. Feet: venous pattern prominent; **«мягкие ткани стоп имеют вид "банной" кожи»** (soft tissue of the feet has the appearance of "bath skin"). Left shin, outer lower third: dark-red abrasions 2.5 x 1.5 and 4.5 x 1.5 cm. (L.99)

**F52. Scalp/skull (L.99):** scalp flaps moist, juicy, shiny on the inner surface. **«Соответственно правой лобновисочной области, области левой и правой височных мышц разлитые кровоизлияния с пропитыванием мягких тканей»** — corresponding to the right fronto-temporal region and to the left and right temporal muscles, diffuse hemorrhages soaking the soft tissues.

**F53. The fracture (L.99):** «От переднего края чешуи левой височной кости по направлению кпереди и вверх участка лобной кости располагается трещина кости с расхождением краев до 0,1 см, длина трещины до 6 см. Трещина находится на расстоянии 1,5 см, от стреловидного шва.» — From the anterior edge of the squama of the left temporal bone, running forward and upward into the frontal bone, a bone fissure with divergence of the edges up to 0.1 cm, length up to 6 cm, located 1.5 cm from the sagittal suture. The conclusion calls it «перелом левой лобной кости» (fracture of the left frontal bone).

**F54.** «Кроме этого отмечается расхождение швов в области височно-теменного шва слева, а также справа /посмертные/» — in addition, divergence of the temporo-parietal sutures on the left and also on the right, marked by the examiner as **post-mortem**. (L.99)

**F55.** Dura bluish, vessels weakly filled; **under the dura up to 75 cm³ of bloody fluid**; pia cloudy, red-greenish; brain a shapeless greenish-red mass, ventricles indistinguishable; **at the upper edge of the left petrous pyramid a hemorrhage under the bone plate 0.3 x 0.4 cm**; skull base bones intact. (L.99)

**F56.** Chest: **pleural cavities contained up to 1 litre of bloody fluid /effusion/** («до 1 литра кровянистой жидкости /выпот/»); pericardium 30 cm³ bloody fluid; heart 11 x 10 x 6; LV 1.5, RV 0.5; up to 100 cm³ liquid dark blood; valves cloudy dark red; coronaries free. Lungs bluish-red, doughy, abundant foamy bloody fluid and dark blood on pressure. (L.100)

**F57.** Stomach: about 100 cm³ mucous mass, brown-yellow; mucosa swollen greyish-red, well folded; punctate hemorrhages — Vishnevsky spots — on the folds. Hyoid horns intact. Liver 23 x 16 x 12 x 7, sharply hyperaemic; gall bladder 30 cm³; spleen flabby 11 x 7 x 3, large scrape. Small intestine dirty-yellow mucous mass; colon semi-formed faeces. (L.100-101)

**F58.** Kidneys 11 x 5 x 3 and 10 x 5 x 3; **hemorrhage in the medulla of the right adrenal** («В области правого надпочечника в мозговом веществе кровоизлияние»). Bladder up to 200 cm³ cloudy pale-yellow fluid. Taken for chemical and histological study: part of the internal organs **and part of the pyramid of the temporal bone**. «При исследовании внутренних органов наличие алкоголя не обнаружено». (L.101)

**F59. Conclusion (L.102):** death «от действия низкой температуры /замерзание/ о чем свидетельствуют: отек мозговых оболочек, полнокровие внутренних органов, пятна Вишневского на слизистой желудка, отморожение пальцев верхних конечностей третьей, четвертой степени.»

**F60.** On the fracture: «Обнаруженный при внутреннем исследовании перелом левой лобной кости мог возникнуть при падении гражданина СЛОБОДИНА или ушиба области головы о твердые предметы, какими могли быть камни, лед и прочее. Указанная закрытая травма черепа причинена тупым орудием. В момент возникновения она несомненно вызвала состояние кратковременного оглушения СЛОБОДИНА и способствовала быстрейшему замерзанию СЛОБОДИНА. Отсутствие явно выраженного кровоизлияния под мозговые оболочки дает основание полагать, что смерть СЛОБОДИНА наступила именно в результате его замерзания.» — The fracture of the left frontal bone could have arisen from a fall or a blow of the head against hard objects such as rocks, ice etc.; a closed skull injury by a blunt instrument; at the moment of its occurrence it undoubtedly caused a state of short-term stunning and favoured his faster freezing; the absence of a clearly expressed hemorrhage under the meninges gives grounds to believe that death occurred precisely from freezing. (L.102) — Note: the examiner does not state explicitly that the fracture is in-life; the in-life inference rests on the scalp hemorrhages (F52) and the general sentence F61.

**F61.** «Повреждения были причинены как при жизни, а также в агональном состоянии и посмертно.» Abrasions/scratches by a blunt instrument from falling or bruising on rocks, ice etc. Last meal **6-8 hours before death**. No alcohol. (L.102)

**F62.** «С учетом вышеуказанных телесных повреждений СЛОБОДИН в первые часы с момента их причинения мог передвигаться и ползти.» — With these injuries Slobodin, **in the first hours** after they were inflicted, could move and crawl (English page: "in the first hour"). «Смерть Слободина насильственная – несчастный случай.» (L.103)

**F63.** Not in this report: no ice, ice bed or "cap" of ice is mentioned anywhere in Slobodin's autopsy; no body temperature; the only reference to his finding position is in the closing resolution (face down, "crawling toward the tent", L.386).

## 4. Yuri Doroshenko — Act №2, L.104-111, Vozrozhdenny & Laptev, 4 March 1959

**F64.** Position: arms raised at the shoulders toward the head, bent at the elbows and at the finger joints; legs extended; head turned to the left. (L.105)

**F65.** Clothing: short-sleeved blue checked shirt with red check, two two-button patch pockets, all six buttons fastened; sleeveless knitted vest, light green («салатного цвета»); blue sateen underpants and swim briefs («трусы и плавки»); light-blue knitted long johns fastened with two buttons, **torn on the middle third of the thighs: 22 x 33 cm on the right front, 13 x 13 cm on the left inner** (English: 22 x 23). Left foot: two pairs of light-brown knitted socks torn at the dorsum and ankle, and a white wool sock with reinforced heel bearing a **burned area 2 x 5 cm, dark brown, at the forefoot**; right foot: remains of a cotton sock with elastic, and a white wool sock. Label «5П1513» inside the underpants. No trousers, no outer garments, no footwear, no head cover. (L.105)

**F66.** Body: **180 cm**, good nutrition, well-developed muscles; livor crimson-purple on back of neck, trunk, limbs; rigor resolved; dark-blond hair up to 6 cm, «полубокс» cut. **In the right temporo-parietal and occipital region an area where the tips of the hair are burnt; hair soiled with remains of moss and conifer needles**; skin of face brown-purple, features smoothed. (L.105)

**F67.** Eyes closed, corneas cloudy, irises brown, pupils dilated. Nose bridge, tip and upper lip: traces of dried blood discharge. **Upper lip swollen, on the red border a dark-red hemorrhage 1.5 x 2 cm**. Mouth slightly open, teeth even; tongue in the mouth behind the teeth. (L.106)

**F68.** **«В области правой щеки мягкие ткани покрыты слоем пенистой серого цвета жидкости, из отверстия рта следы выделений жидкости серого цвета»** — the soft tissue of the right cheek is covered with a layer of foamy grey fluid; traces of grey fluid discharge from the mouth. (L.106)

**F69.** Ears bluish-red; on the tragus and lobe of the right ear dense brown-red areas 6 x 1.6 cm; on the left tragus 4 x 1 cm parchment; inner surface of ears bright red. Neck unremarkable. (L.106)

**F70.** Right arm: inner middle third — two brown-red parchment abrasions 2 x 1.5 cm, irregular, **«без кровоизлияний в подлежащих тканях»** (no hemorrhage; two incisions made); anterior edge of right axillary line — dark-red abrasion 2 x 1.5; **front of the right upper arm — small brown-red stripe abrasions 4 x 1, 2.5 x 1.5 and 5 x 0.5 cm** (English places these on the forearm); small abrasions lower third of right forearm; back of right hand swollen with small abrasions; **over the 2nd metacarpal an abrasion 2 x 1.5 cm brown-red «с кровоизлияниями в подлежащие мягкие ткани»** (with hemorrhage). Fingers, especially terminal phalanges, dark purple. (L.106-107)

**F71.** Left arm: inner lower third — abrasions 3 x 0.5, 1.5 x 0.7, 1 x 1.5 cm; sides of left elbow — small parchment abrasions and abrasions 2 x 3 cm **«со следами скольжения в виде полос параллельно расположенных»** (with sliding traces in the form of parallel stripes); inner left forearm at the junction of middle and lower third — **a skin wound 0.6 x 0.5 cm, irregular oval, edges slightly crushed, covered with dried blood, dried blood below it; incision showed hemorrhage in the underlying soft tissue** (in-life). Back of left hand slightly swollen, brown-red. (L.107)

**F72.** Trunk: chest cylindrical; abdomen slightly below chest level; **whitish linear scar 8 cm in the right iliac region** (old surgical scar); genitals: foreskin and glans bright red; anus and urethra clean. Legs: front of both shins, middle third — pale-red parchment abrasions 8 x 4 (left) and 5 x 1.5 cm (right); toes dark purple. «Кости и хрящи скелета при ощупывании целы.» (L.107)

**F73.** Skull vault and base intact; dura bluish, hyperaemic; pia cloudy, swollen; gyri smoothed; brain jelly-like greenish-red; ventricles indistinguishable. (L.108)

**F74.** Pleural cavities free; pericardium up to 40 cm³ amber fluid; heart 13 x 10 x 6; LV 2, RV 0.7; **up to 270 cm³ liquid dark blood in the heart**; valves pale red; coronaries free, widened; aortic arch 8.5 cm. Lungs bluish-red, doughy; on pressure a large amount of liquid dark blood and foamy bloody fluid; larynx and bronchi free; hyoid horns intact. (L.108)

**F75.** Stomach: **about 150 cm³ of liquid mucous mass, brown-red**; mucosa purple-red, swollen, well folded, **large number of small hemorrhages — Vishnevsky spots — on the tops of the folds; sour smell**. Small intestine reddish mucous mass; colon semi-formed light-brown faeces. (L.108-109)

**F76.** Spleen flabby, wrinkled capsule, 11 x 7 x 3; liver 27 x 17 x 12 x 10, hyperaemic; gall bladder 30 cm³ olive fluid; kidneys 11 x 6 x 4 and 11 x 5 x 3.5, layers poorly distinct; adrenal layers distinct. **Bladder about 150 cm³** cloudy light-yellow fluid. «При исследовании внутренних органов наличие алкоголя не обнаружено.» Organs sent to the laboratory of the Regional Bureau for chemical and histological study. (L.109-110)

**F77. Conclusion (L.111):** death «от действия низкой температуры / замерзание / о чем свидетельствует : отек мозговых оболочек, резкое полнокровие внутренних органов, переполнение жидкой темной кровью полостей сердца, наличие пятен Вишневского на слизистой желудка, переполнение мочевого пузыря, а также обморожение пальцев конечностей III и IV степени.» Injuries by blunt instrument from falling/bruising on rocks, ice etc.; inflicted in life, agonal state and post-mortem; «относятся к разряду легких без расстройства здоровья». Last meal 6-8 hours before death. No alcohol. Violent death, accident. Signed Vozrozhdenny and Laptev.

## 5. Georgiy Krivonischenko — Act №3, L.112-119, Vozrozhdenny & Laptev, 4 March 1959

**F78.** Position: head turned left; right arm bent at the elbow and raised, fingers of the right hand touching the head; left arm bent at the elbow and brought to the shoulder, hand flexed, fingers touching the chest; right leg extended, left slightly abducted at the hip and bent at the knee. (L.113)

**F79.** Clothing: cotton checked shirt, light blue with red-black check, 3 buttons (two undone), cuffs fastened; outer pocket: **a coil of copper wire and a pink silk ribbon**; a white cloth pocket sewn inside on the left; white cotton undershirt; white long johns of «Гризбон» fabric — **the lower left half absent to knee level, the torn edges uneven and charred**; blue sateen swim briefs with two ties. Left foot: torn cotton sock with charred edges. Nothing recorded on the right foot; no trousers, no outer garments, no head cover. (L.113)

**F80.** Body: **169 cm**, regular build, good nutrition; livor crimson-purple posteriorly; rigor resolved; dark-blond curly hair up to 10 cm; skin of face bluish-grey. (L.113)

**F81.** Head: round abrasion 0.3 x 0.3 cm mid-forehead, brown-red parchment; **left temporal region — two brown-red parchment abrasions 1.2 x 0.3 and 1 x 0.2 cm**. Eyes half open, right palpebral fissure wider than left; **Larcher spots on both corneas**; corneas cloudy; irises grey-green; pupils dilated. (L.114)

**F82.** Nose: brown-red parchment abrasion on the middle third passing into **a wound at the tip and alae with a soft-tissue defect 1.8 x 2 cm, the floor of the wound being the cartilage of the nasal septum, with the right nasal passage [exposed]**. Ash-coloured stubble up to 0.5 cm on lip and chin. Lip mucosa dark brown, parchment; mouth closed, lips swollen. (L.114)

**F83.** **«За нижними зубами лоскут эпидермиса бледно-серого цвета с сосочковыми линиями размер лоскута 1.8 на 0,6 см»** — behind the lower teeth a flap of pale-grey epidermis with papillary (fingerprint) lines, 1.8 x 0.6 cm. Teeth even with white enamel; mouth and nose openings clean; cheeks: dark-brown parchment abrasions. Ears swollen bluish-red; neck unremarkable. (L.114)

**F84.** Right side of chest at axilla level: pale-red abrasion 7 x 2 cm **«без кровоизлияний в подлежащие ткани»**; right costal margin, midclavicular line: pale-red parchment abrasions 2 x 1.2 and 1 x 1.2 cm, **no hemorrhage**. (L.114-115)

**F85.** Right hand: back swollen; whitish-grey over the knuckles; fingers brown-purple; terminal phalanges dry dark brown with small parchment abrasions on their backs; palm bluish-red with a small dark-brown skin wound with uneven edges at the base of the thumb; **«На средней фаланге третьего пальца дефект эпидермиса по форме и размерам совпадающим с обнаруженным в полости рта»** — on the middle phalanx of the third finger an epidermal defect matching in shape and size the flap found in the mouth (i.e. he had bitten his own finger). All finger tips dried, dark brown. (L.115)

**F86.** Left wrist: dark-red parchment abrasion 5 x 2.5 cm; back of left hand swollen; **«Вдоль всего поперечника тыла-левой кисти скальпированная рана с отслоившимся эпидермисом темнокоричневого цвета пергаментной плотности размером 8 х 2 см»** — across the whole width of the back of the left hand a scalped (avulsion) wound with detached epidermis, dark brown, parchment density, 8 x 2 cm (English page: "scalpel wound"); backs of fingers 2-5 black with wrinkled epidermis of the 5th finger and dried terminal phalanges; palmar finger tips dried, dense; **middle phalanges of fingers 4-5: skin wounds 1.5 x 1 and 1 x 0.5 cm, dark brown, dense, with charring**. (L.115)

**F87.** Left buttock and thigh, outer surface: areas of pink and brown-red parchment soft tissue with sliding epidermis, 10 x 3, 6 x 2 and 4 x 5 cm; anterior-inner thigh: dark-red parchment abrasions 4 x 2, 1 x 1.5 and smaller. **Inner surface of the upper third of the left thigh: «три кожные ранки линейной формы с ровными краями глубиной до 0,3 см с острыми углами размером 1,5 на 04 см»** — three linear skin wounds with even edges, up to 0.3 cm deep, with sharp angles, 1.5 x 0.4 cm. (L.115-116)

**F88.** Burns: left shin and foot swollen; **«По всей наружной поверхности голени ожоговая поверхность на участке размером 31 х 10 см пергаментной плотности. В нижней трети левой голени бурочерного цвета с обугливанием тканей и лопнувшим кожным покровом затем в средней трети и верхней трети ожоговая поверхность яркокрасного цвета и светлокоричневого цвета»** — over the whole outer surface of the shin a burn surface 31 x 10 cm of parchment density; in the lower third brown-black with charring of the tissues and burst skin, in the middle and upper thirds bright red and light brown. Posterior-inner left shin: dark-brown parchment abrasions 8 x 1.3, 4 x 1.5, 2 x 1 cm. Back of left foot brown with epidermal detachment 10 x 4 cm; **back of the 2nd toe charred**, dark brown, dense. Front of right thigh and shin: dark-brown parchment abrasions 5 x 2, 3 x 8, 7 x 1, 2 x 1 cm. (L.116)

**F89. Scalp (L.116):** «в правой височной области и затылочной области разлитое кровоизлияние с пропитыванием правой височной мышцы» — in the right temporal and occipital regions a diffuse hemorrhage soaking the right temporal muscle (an in-life head impact sign, not mentioned in the conclusion). **«Кости свода основания черепа целы»** — bones of the vault and base of the skull intact. Dura bluish, hyperaemic; pia cloudy, swollen; brain jelly-like reddish-green; cerebellar layers distinct.

**F90.** Pleural cavities free; pericardium up to 20 cm³ cloudy yellowish fluid; heart 12 x 10 x 5.5; LV 1.8, RV 0.5; **up to 200 cm³ liquid dark blood in the heart cavities**; valves thin; coronaries free. Lungs lilac-red, doughy, abundant dark blood and foamy bloody fluid on pressure; larynx/bronchi free; thyroid fleshy dark red; hyoid horns intact. (L.117)

**F91.** Stomach: **«следы слизистой массы бурожелтоватого цвета»** — traces of a brown-yellowish mucous mass; mucosa bluish-reddish, well folded, swollen; **many small hemorrhages — Vishnevsky spots — on the folds**. (L.117)

**F92.** Liver 26 x 16 x 14 x 9, sharply hyperaemic; gall bladder 30 cm³ brown fluid; spleen 9 x 6 x 3, flabby, large scrape; small intestine brown-yellow mucous mass, colon brown faeces; kidneys 10 x 6 x 3.5 and 10 x 5 x 3; adrenals distinct. **Bladder up to 500 cm³ cloudy yellowish fluid.** Organs taken for chemical and histological study. (L.117-118)

**F93. Conclusion (L.119):** death «в результате воздействия низкой температуры /замерзание/ о чем свидетельствует отек мозговых оболочек, резкое полнокровие внутренних органов, переполнение жидкой темной кровью полостей сердца, наличие пятен Вишневского на слизистой желудка, переполнение мочевого пузыря, отморожение пальцев конечностей и ожог II – III степени /у костра/.» — freezing; also "frostbite of the fingers/toes and burn of II-III degree /at the campfire/". The injuries (abrasions, skin wounds) «могли возникнуть в результате падения или ушиба о камни, лед и прочее»; inflicted in life, agonal state and post-mortem. Last meal 6-8 hours before death. Alcohol not found. Violent death, accident. The word «обнаруженные» was inserted by hand.

## 6. Aleksander Kolevatov — Act №1 (May series), L.345-348, Vozrozhdenny alone, 9 May 1959, Ivdel

Decree of the prosecutor-criminalist of 7 May 1959. Present: Ivanov and forensic criminalist G. A. Churkina. «при дневном освещении» (in daylight; the "sunny weather" of the English is not in the Russian). Circumstances paragraph in the Russian: «группа туристов в составе 9 участников» — 9 participants (the English substitutes the March boilerplate "10 people"). Certified copies of this and the next three Acts are also in volume 2 (sheets 23-35); a word-level comparison found only punctuation differences.

**F94.** Clothing: black flannelette («бумазея») ski jacket with zipper, **unzipped**, right and left breast pockets and cuffs **unbuttoned**, buttons intact; **on the upper side of the left sleeve a fabric defect 25 x 12 x 13 cm with burned edges**; small tears 7-8 cm at the right elbow. **«Над курткой коричневый с начесом трикотажный свитр»** — OVER the jacket a brown brushed knitted sweater; under it a second worn grey sweater; cotton checked shirt (blue/red/black) with two breast pockets — **right pocket closed with a safety pin («английская булавка»; English page: "an English letter") containing a flat lock key**; collar and cuffs **unbuttoned** (English says "closed"); left pocket: a piece of wrapping paper, packaging from a packet of «Кодеин с содой» (codeine with soda). Pale-grey brushed undershirt, worn. (L.345)

**F95.** Legs/feet: canvas khaki bib-overall trousers on straps with elastic; right pocket a sodden matchbox; metal buckles at the bottom, with tears; under them blue baize ski trousers with side fastenings, handkerchief in pocket; pale-grey long johns (pair with the undershirt); blue satin underpants. Feet: dirty white home-knitted wool socks **with burned areas**; brown cotton socks; **on the left foot three brown cotton socks, under them a gauze bandage at the ankle joint**. No footwear; no head cover recorded. (L.345)

**F96.** Body: **174 cm**, regular build, satisfactory nutrition; livor crimson-purple abundant on the posterior and **right lateral** surface of trunk and limbs; rigor resolved; skin of face and trunk greenish-grey with a crimson tint. Dark-blond hair to 10 cm; parieto-occipital area bald from post-mortem hair slippage. (L.345-346)

**F97.** Face: forehead low, straight; **eyebrows absent; soft tissue absent over the orbits and brow ridges with exposure of the facial bones**, edges flabby, smoothed, slightly raised; **eyeballs shrunken, deeply sunken into the orbits** (present); **«хрящи носа мягкие на ощупь, необычной подвижности. Основание носа приплюснуто. Носовые отверстия сжаты»** — nasal cartilages soft, unusually mobile; base of the nose flattened; nostrils compressed. (L.346)

**F98.** Right cheek: soft-tissue defect 4 x 5.5 cm, irregular oval, with crushed, smoothed, thinned edges; floor formed by the bones of the lower jaw; surrounding soft tissue crimson-greenish. Mouth wide open; teeth even, white; tongue in the mouth; facial soft tissue flabby, thinned, dirty grey. (L.346)

**F99.** **«За правой ушной раковиной, в области сосцевидного отростка, рана неопределенной формы размером 3 х 1,5 х 0,5 см, проникающая до сосцевидного отростка»** — behind the right ear, over the mastoid, a wound of indeterminate shape 3 x 1.5 x 0.5 cm penetrating to the mastoid process. No statement about hemorrhage around it. (L.346)

**F100.** **«Шея длинная, тонкая, деформированная в области щитовидного хряща»** — neck long, thin, **deformed in the region of the thyroid cartilage**. Chest rectangular; epidermis sliding off the chest skin. Internally: «Шейные мышцы и мышцы межпозвоночные шейного отдела позвоночника представляют собой незначительные остатки мягких тканей зеленоватосерого цвета (гнилостные изменения)» — cervical and intervertebral neck muscles are insignificant remnants of greenish-grey soft tissue (putrefaction); hyoid intact. (L.346-347)

**F101.** Hands: "bath skin" pale grey on the fingers; fingers half-flexed. Abdomen at chest level; right thigh adducted to the left. **«В области наружной поверхности правого бедра участок вдавления мягких тканей размером 25 х 15 см без кровоизлияния в подлежащие мягкие ткани»** — outer right thigh: an area of depression (indentation) of the soft tissue 25 x 15 cm, **without** hemorrhage. Feet: bath skin. Limb bones intact on palpation. (L.346)

**F102.** **«В области левого коленного сустава, на внутренней поверхности, разлитое кровоизлияние в подлежащие ткани»** — inner surface of the left knee: a diffuse hemorrhage into the underlying tissues (an in-life sign, not addressed in the conclusion). (L.346)

**F103.** Skull vault and base intact; dura bluish, satisfactorily filled; pia thin, cloudy; brain jelly-like, ventricles indistinct. (L.346)

**F104.** **Pleural cavities: up to 500 cm³ of bloody fluid**; pericardium up to 13 cm³ amber fluid; heart 13 x 12 x 5; LV 1.5, RV 0.5; up to 100 cm³ liquid dark blood; valves slightly thickened at the line of closure; aortic arch 7 cm. Lungs bluish-reddish, «пушистые» (fluffy/airy) to the touch, dark red on section, a large quantity of foamy bloody fluid on pressure. (L.347)

**F105.** Stomach: **up to 100 cm³ of pale-red mucous mass**; mucosa swollen, bluish-red, loose, well folded. No Vishnevsky spots recorded. Pancreas yellowish-bluish; liver dull, 23 x 15 x 12 x 7, brown; gall bladder 5 cm³; small intestine pale-reddish/yellowish mucous mass; colon brown-greenish faeces; spleen 9 x 7 x 2.5; kidneys, cortex/medulla distinct; adrenal layers poorly distinct. (L.347)

**F106.** **Bladder: up to 700 cm³** cloudy yellowish fluid. Organs taken for chemical and histological study. No alcohol statement. Signed Vozrozhdenny, Ivanov, Churkina. (L.347)

**F107. Conclusion (L.348):** «смерть его наступила в результате воздействия низкой температуры. Обнаруженные на теле Колеватова телесные повреждения в области головы - дефекты мягких тканей, а также "банная" кожа являются посмертными изменениями трупа, находившегося в последнее время перед его обнаружением в воде. Смерть Колеватова насильственная.» — death from the effect of low temperature; the head injuries (soft-tissue defects) and bath skin are post-mortem changes of a body that had lately, before its discovery, been in water; violent death. **The conclusion does not list the diagnostic signs of freezing** (no Vishnevsky spots, no frostbite recorded), gives no meal timing, and does not mention the neck deformation, the mastoid wound, the mobile nose or the left-knee hemorrhage. The phrase "Kolevatov has no bodily injuries" is not in the Act; it is the closing resolution's paraphrase (F198).

## 7. Semyon (Aleksander Alekseevich) Zolotaryov — Act №2 (May series), L.349-351, Vozrozhdenny, 9 May 1959

**F108.** Head/neck clothing: black ushanka trimmed with black fur; red wool knitted sports cap with three light stripes; brown/blue checked wool scarf, worn, with an **unfastened pin**; **«Туристская маска из байки и зеленого брезента на ремешках»** — a tourist mask of baize and green canvas on straps. (L.349)

**F109.** Torso: fur waistcoat on black sheepskin, heavily worn; brown baize sports jacket on buttons — left breast pocket without button, two of three collar buttons undone, left sleeve buttoned with one button, right unbuttoned; black cotton sweater, slightly worn; blue sports cotton vest with sleeves; cherry-coloured cotton knitted vest. (L.349)

**F110.** Legs/feet: canvas khaki bib-overalls with two patch pockets — **right pocket: an onion and coins of 3, 5 and 15 kopecks**; inner breast pocket: comb and a ball of thread; back pocket: a rolled newspaper. Under the overalls torn blue baize ski trousers on buttons, three waist buttons undone, cuff buttons fastened, inner pockets empty; under them a second identical pair on elastic — pocket: pieces of newspaper and five coins (2 x 15, 2 x 2, 1 x 10 kop.). **Grey cotton swim trunks worn inside out over blue satin underpants.** Feet: black quilted «бурки» containing brown wool socks — one sock on the right foot, two darned socks (one wool, one cotton) on the left. **A compass worn on the left arm** («На левой руке одет компас»). (L.349)

**F111.** Body: 172 cm, satisfactory nutrition, regular build; livor purple-grey, abundant on the back of neck, trunk, limbs **and on the right lateral chest**; rigor resolved; fronto-parietal balding; remaining hair black to 10 cm, slipping at a touch. (L.349-350)

**F112.** **«В правой теменной области - дефект мягких тканей неправильной формы размером 8 х 6 см с истонченными, слегка подмятыми краями, с обнажением теменной кости»** — right **parietal** region: irregular soft-tissue defect 8 x 6 cm with thinned, slightly crushed edges, exposing the parietal bone (English: "temporal"). Face greenish-grey; forehead low; eyebrows absent; **brow/orbital soft-tissue defect, round, 7 x 6 cm, exposing the facial bones; «Глазницы зияют. Глазные яблоки отсутствуют»** — orbits gape, eyeballs absent. Nasal bones and cartilage intact on palpation; nose flattened at the base; nostrils compressed. (L.350)

**F113.** Remains of a chestnut moustache on the right upper lip; lips pale grey; teeth even, white; **upper jaw right: two crowns and a tooth of white metal; lower jaw: four white-metal crowns**; mouth wide open; oral mucosa greenish-grey (putrefaction); mouth and ear openings clean. Neck long, thin. Chest cylindrical; abdomen below chest level. Traces of faecal discharge from the anus. Bath skin on fingers and toes; epidermis sliding from trunk and limbs; fingers half-flexed. (L.350)

**F114. Tattoos (identification):** «На тыле правой кисти у основания большого пальца татуировка "Гена". На тыле правого предплечья в средней трети татуировка с изображением "свеклы и букв + С", на тыле левого предплечья татуировка с изображением "Г.С" ДАЕРММУАЗУАЯ ", пятиконечная звезда и буквы "С", букв Г+С+П = Д" и цифры 1921 год".» — back of right hand at the base of the thumb: «Гена» (Gena); back of right forearm, middle third: a beet and the letters «+ С»; back of left forearm: «Г.С», «ДАЕРММУАЗУАЯ», a five-pointed star, the letter «С», the letters «Г+С+П = Д» and the figures «1921 год». (L.350)

**F115.** Skull vault and base intact; dura bluish-greenish, **poorly filled with blood**; pia thin, cloudy; brain poorly differentiated. (L.350)

**F116.** **«В плевральных полостях содержалось до I литра жидкой темной крови»** — up to 1 litre of liquid dark blood in the pleural cavities. Pericardium up to 15 cm³ cloudy amber fluid; heart 13 x 10 x 6; LV 1.4, RV 0.5; **only up to 50 cm³ liquid dark blood in the heart**; valves somewhat thickened at the closure line; coronaries free. No hemorrhage of the heart muscle is recorded macroscopically (contrast the histology F158-F160 and the testimony F189). (L.350)

**F117.** Lungs bluish-red, fluffy, dark-cherry on section, a large amount of foamy bloody fluid on pressure; larynx/bronchi free; hyoid intact. Stomach: **traces of a pale-reddish mucous mass**; mucosa bluish-reddish with weakly visible folds. Pancreas reddish-yellow. (L.350)

**F118.** Liver dull, 26 x 15 x 10 x 7; gall bladder traces of brown fluid; spleen 10 x 7 x 3, large scrape; intestines: dirty-yellow mucous mass / brown-yellow faeces; kidneys 10 x 6 x 3 and 9.5 x 6 x 3, layers poorly distinct; adrenals poorly distinct. **Bladder up to 500 cm³** cloudy yellowish fluid. (L.351)

**F119. Ribs (L.351):** «После извлечения органокомплекса из грудной и брюшной полости определяется перелом II, III, IV, V, VI ребер справа по окологрудной и средне-подмышечной линии с кровоизлиянием в прилегающие межреберные мышцы.» — after removal of the organ complex, fractures of ribs II, III, IV, V, VI **on the right along the parasternal and mid-axillary lines**, with hemorrhage into the adjacent intercostal muscles (i.e. two fracture lines per rib, 10 fracture sites). Organs taken for chemical and histological study.

**F120. Conclusion (L.351):** «смерть его наступила в результате множественного перелома ребер справа с внутренним кровотечением в плевральную полость при наличии действия низкой температуры. Вышеуказанные множественные переломы ребер у Золотарева с наличием кровотечения в плевральную полость возникли при жизни и являются результатом воздействия большой силы на область грудной клетки Золотарева в момент падения его, сдавления или отбрасывания.» — death from multiple fractures of the right ribs with internal bleeding into the pleural cavity, in the presence of the action of low temperature; the fractures with pleural bleeding **arose in life** and are the result of the action of **great force** on the chest at the moment of his fall, compression or being thrown. Head soft-tissue injuries and bath skin are post-mortem changes of a body lately in water. Violent death. No meal timing, no alcohol statement.

## 8. Nikolay Thibeaux-Brignolle — Act №3 (May series; Russian transcription reads «АКТ № 8»), L.352-354, Vozrozhdenny, 9 May 1959

The radiological reference sheet (L.371 back) numbers Thibeaux «№3 … как в актах вскрытия» (as in the autopsy acts), so the «8» is a typo or misreading. The Russian circumstances line reads «Ночью I.II.59 г. все участники похода погибли» (on the night of 1.II.59) rather than «в ночь на 2 февраля».

**F121.** Head clothing: **green knitted wool sports cap, tightly tied, with three round holes 3 x 3 cm in front**; over it a khaki canvas fur helmet with zipper and drawcord. (L.352)

**F122.** Torso: green canvas sheepskin fur jacket with zipper and two patch pockets — right pocket grey wool gloves; left pocket coins 10, 20 and 2 kop., two folded papers, a comb; worn wool sweater **«одетый на левую сторону»** (inside out); worn blue knitted vest with an oval tear 2 x 3 cm at the lower right. (L.352)

**F123.** **Two watches on the left forearm: a sports watch («спортивные часы») showing 8 h 14 min 24 s; a «Победа» showing 8 h 39 min.** (L.352)

**F124.** Legs/feet: warm cloth («суконные») winter trousers, cuffs fastened, leather belt with a heavy metal buckle; pocket of the outer trousers: a white button and a metal chain from a wall clock; blue cotton sports trousers; black satin underpants. **Almost new grey valenki**; a white hand-knitted wool sock on each foot; a brown wool sock crumpled inside a valenok at the insole. (L.352)

**F125.** Body: 174 cm, regular build, satisfactory nutrition (English: "good"); livor purple-greenish on the posterolateral chest, neck and limbs; rigor resolved; skin grey-greenish with sliding epidermis; black hair to 8 cm; forehead high; thick black eyebrows; **eyes closed, eyeballs sunk far into the orbits (present)**; corneas cloudy, dry; irises dark green (English: "light green"); nasal bones intact on palpation. (L.352)

**F126.** Upper jaw left: soft-tissue defect 3 x 4 cm, irregular oval, thinned slightly crushed edges, exposing the alveolar margin (post-mortem per conclusion); teeth even white; mouth open; tongue in the mouth; oral mucosa dirty green; stubble to 1 cm; openings clean; neck long, thin. (L.352-353)

**F127.** Hands: backs pale brown, parchment density; fingers half-flexed; **bath skin with rejection (shedding) of the nail plates**; toes: bath skin. (L.353)

**F128.** **«В области правого плеча на передне-внутренней поверхности – разлитой кровоподтек размером 10х12 см зеленоватосинего цвета на уровне средней и нижней трети. В области кровоподтека кровоизлияния в подлежащие мягкие ткани»** — on the antero-inner surface of the **right upper arm** («плечо»), a diffuse bruise 10 x 12 cm, greenish-blue, at the level of the middle and lower thirds, with hemorrhage into the underlying soft tissue (in-life). (L.353)

**F129. Scalp/temporal muscle (L.353):** «В области правого виска отмечается разлитое кровоизлияние в правую височную мышцу с диффузным пропитыванием» — in the right temple a diffuse hemorrhage into the right temporal muscle with diffuse soaking.

**F130. Depressed fracture (L.353):** «После иссечения правой височной мышцы определяется вдавленный перелом правой височнотеменной области, на участке размером 9 х 7 см с дефектом костной ткани и височной кости размером 3 х 3,5 х 2 см. Указанный участок кости вдавлен в полость черепа и находится на твердой мозговой оболочке.» — after excision of the right temporal muscle, a **depressed fracture of the right temporo-parietal region over an area 9 x 7 cm, with a defect of bone tissue and of the temporal bone measuring 3 x 3.5 x 2 cm; this piece of bone is pressed into the cranial cavity and lies on the dura mater.**

**F131. Base of skull (L.353):** «После извлечения вещества головного мозга в средней черепной яме обнаружен многооскольчатый перелом правой височной кости с расхождением и переходом трещины кости в переднюю черепную яму на правую надглазничную область лобной кости, вторая трещина проходит по передней поверхности турецкого седла в области клиновидного отсростка, углубляясь в толщу основной кости, затем переходит в среднюю черепную яму слева, с расхождением краев кости от 0,1 – до 0,4 см.» — after removal of the brain: in the middle cranial fossa a **comminuted (multi-fragment) fracture of the right temporal bone** with divergence and passage of the fissure into the **anterior cranial fossa onto the right supraorbital region of the frontal bone**; a **second fissure runs along the anterior surface of the sella turcica in the region of the sphenoid process, deepening into the body of the sphenoid, then passes into the left middle cranial fossa**, with divergence of the bone edges from 0.1 to 0.4 cm.

**F132.** «В целом длина трещины в области только основания черепа равна 17 см. Кроме этого, отмечается ассиметрия за счет компрессионного перелома данной области.» — the total length of the fissure in the base of the skull alone is **17 cm**; asymmetry due to compression fracture of the region. Dura at the fracture site sharply hyperaemic; the right hemisphere hyperaemic, more greenish-crimson; brain a jelly-like dirty-red mass. (L.353)

**F133.** Pleural cavities free (no blood); pericardium up to 10 cm³ reddish cloudy fluid; heart 13 x 12 x 5.5, muscle flabby; LV 1.8, RV 0.6; **«В правой и левой половина сердца содержалась жидкая темная кровь ввиде следов "сухое сердце"»** — only traces of liquid dark blood in the heart, "dry heart"; valves slightly thickened; aortic arch 8.5 cm. Lungs bluish-red, fluffy, abundant foamy fluid on pressure; larynx/bronchi free; hyoid intact. (L.353-354)

**F134.** Stomach: **up to 100 cm³ mucous mass, reddish-yellow**; mucosa bluish-red, well folded. Liver 24 x 16 x 14 x 8, brown-greenish with yellow tint; gall bladder traces; spleen 9 x 5 x 3, thick scrape; small intestine yellowish/brown mucous mass; colon semi-formed faeces; kidneys «9 х 6 х 6» and 10 x 6 x 3; adrenals poorly distinct. (L.354)

**F135.** **«Мочевой пузырь пуст»** — bladder empty. Taken for chemical and histological study: parts of the internal organs **and part of the right temporo-parietal bone** («часть височно-теменной кости справа»). (L.354) — The histology report for Thibeaux (F156) does not mention the bone.

**F136. Conclusion (L.354):** «смерть его наступила в результате закрытого многооскольчатого вдавленного перелома в область свода и основания черепа, с обильным кровоизлиянием под мозговые оболочки и в вещество головного мозга при наличии действия низкой температуры. Вышеуказанный обширный многооскольчатый перелом кости свода и основания черепа прижизненного происхождения и является результатом воздействия большой силы с последующим падением, броском и ушибом Тибо-Бриньоля.» — death from a closed comminuted depressed fracture of the vault and base of the skull with abundant hemorrhage under the meninges and into the brain substance, in the presence of low temperature; the fracture is **of in-life origin** and the result of **great force with subsequent fall, throw and bruising**. Head soft-tissue injuries and bath skin are post-mortem, body lately in water. Violent death.

## 9. Lyudmila Dubinina — Act №4 (May series), L.355-357, Vozrozhdenny, 9 May 1959

Russian header errors: «Иванова Г.Н.» (for Л.Н.), «28 января группа» (for 23), and «в помещении санчасти» (no "morgue"). Age 20 (histology: 21).

**F137.** Head: knitted («трикотажный») helmet/balaclava. Torso: worn greyish-brown wool sweater; under it a beige wool sweater; coloured checked shirt, sleeves buttoned; yellow knitted short-sleeved vest; white cotton bra with three buttons fastened. (L.355) — Volume 2, sheet 16 (Ivanov's note) lists «На Дубининой: ковбойка, свитер белый х/б не её, брюки её; Люсина зеленая шапочка на Тибо» — on Dubinina a checked shirt, a white cotton sweater *not hers*, trousers hers; Lyuda's green cap on Thibeaux. The closing resolution adds that her artificial-fur jacket and cap were found on Zolotaryov (F197).

**F138.** Legs/feet: torn dark cotton trousers with elastic waist, **heavily torn and burned in places**; **left leg — shin and foot partly wrapped in a grey wool burned piece of a cardigan («кофты») with a sleeve**; left foot a torn brown wool sock (English: "grey"); both feet torn blue cotton socks, under them grey machine-knitted wool socks; black cotton tights («трико») torn at the crotch; light-brown cotton stockings — left one pulled down, right held by a garter; grey ladies' garter belt; satin men's-cut underpants; belt fastened with black buttons. No footwear. (L.355)

**F139.** Body: 167 cm, regular build, good nutrition; livor bluish-grey, abundant on the back and sides of neck, trunk and limbs; fair («русые») hair in one plait to 50 cm with a blue silk ribbon; forehead straight, receding. (L.355)

**F140.** Face: skin yellowish-brown; **soft tissue absent over the brow ridges, bridge of the nose, orbits and left temporo-zygomatic region, exposing the facial bones; «Орбиты зияют, глазные яблоки отсутствуют»** — orbits gape, eyeballs absent; nasal bones intact, cartilage flattened; **soft tissue of the upper lip absent on the right**, thinned edges, exposing the alveolar margin and teeth; teeth even, white. (L.355)

**F141.** **«Язык в полости рта отсутствует»** — the tongue is absent from the oral cavity. Oral mucosa grey-greenish. Ears oval; openings of mouth, nose and ears clean. (L.355-356)

**F142.** Neck long, thin; soft tissue flabby; **«При ощупывании шеи определяется необычная подвижность рожков подъязычной кости и щитовидного хряща»** — on palpation unusual mobility of the horns of the hyoid bone and of the thyroid cartilage. (L.356)

**F143.** Breasts medium, firm; nipples/areolae pale brown; abdomen at chest level. Hymen annular with a high fleshy rim, admits the tip of an adult's little finger; vaginal mucosa purple-red. (L.356)

**F144.** **«На наружной и передней поверхности левого бедра, в средней трети, разлитой кровоподтек синюшно-лилового цвета на участке размером 10 х 5 см, с кровоизлиянием в толщу кожных покровов»** — outer/anterior left thigh, middle third: diffuse bluish-purple bruise 10 x 5 cm with hemorrhage into the thickness of the skin (in-life). (L.356)

**F145.** Hands: backs dense; fingers half-flexed; terminal phalanges covered with bath skin sliding off together with the nail plates; feet and toes bath skin, pale grey with violet tint. **«При ощупывании грудной клетки определяется необычной подвижность ребер»** — abnormal mobility of the ribs on palpation of the chest. **Left parietal region: soft-tissue defect 4 x 4 cm, floor the exposed parietal bone** (English: "temporal"). (L.356)

**F146.** Skull vault and base intact; meninges bluish, poorly filled; brain poorly differentiated. (L.356)

**F147.** **«в плевральных полостях содержалось до полутора литров жидкой темной крови»** — up to 1.5 litres of liquid dark blood in the pleural cavities. Pericardium up to 20 cm³ yellowish transparent fluid. Heart «12 х 4 х 5 см» (sic). (L.356)

**F148. Heart hemorrhage (L.356):** «В области правого желудочка неправильной овальной формы кровоизлияние размером 4 х 4 см, с диффузным пропитыванием мышцы правого желудочка» — in the region of the **right ventricle** an irregular oval hemorrhage 4 x 4 cm with diffuse soaking of the right-ventricular muscle (English page: "left ventricle"). LV 1.4, RV 0.5; **up to 50 cm³ liquid dark blood in the heart**; valves smooth, thin; coronaries free; aorta clean.

**F149.** Lungs bluish-red, fluffy, dark red on section, abundant foamy bloody fluid on pressure; bronchi free. **«Рожки подъязычной кости необычной подвижности - сломаны, мягкие ткани, примыкающие к подъязычной кости грязносерого цвета. Диафрагма рта и языка отсутствует. Верхний край подъязычной кости обнажен.»** — the horns of the hyoid are abnormally mobile — broken; the soft tissue adjoining the hyoid dirty grey; **the diaphragm of the mouth (floor of the mouth) and the tongue are absent; the upper edge of the hyoid bone is exposed**. (Histology F161: no hemorrhage visible at the hyoid.) (L.356)

**F150.** Stomach: **«до 100 см3 слизистой массы темнокрасноватого цвета»** — up to 100 cm³ of a dark-reddish mucous mass (English: "dark brown"); mucosa loose, bluish-red. Pancreas bluish-red. Liver dull, 23 x 12 x 10 x 6, brownish-red; gall bladder 5 cm³ brown; spleen 7 x 5 x 2; small intestine dirty-yellow mucous mass; colon brown-green faeces; kidneys 9 x 5 x 2 and 9 x 5.5 x 2.3 (English: right 7 x 5 x 2); adrenals poorly distinct; uterus pale grey, **traces of pale-yellowish mucus in its lumen**; ovaries/adnexa unremarkable. (L.356-357)

**F151.** **No bladder finding is recorded** for Dubinina — the only one of the nine reports without it. (L.356-357)

**F152. Ribs (L.357):** «обнаружен множественный двусторонний перелом ребер справа II, III, IV, V по средне-ключичной и переднеподмышечной линии, слева перелом II, III, IV, V, VI, VII ребер по среднеключичной линии. В местах перелома ребер имеются разлитые кровоизлияния в межреберные мышцы. В области рукоятки грудины справа разлитое кровоизлияние.» — multiple bilateral rib fractures: **on the right ribs II, III, IV, V along the midclavicular and the anterior-axillary lines** (English: "mid-axillary"); **on the left ribs II, III, IV, V, VI, VII along the midclavicular line**; diffuse hemorrhages into the intercostal muscles at the fracture sites; a diffuse hemorrhage at the manubrium of the sternum on the right. (Right side: two lines x 4 ribs = 8 fracture sites; left: 6; total 14.) Organs taken for chemical and histological study.

**F153. Conclusion (L.357):** «смерть Дубининой наступила в результате обширного кровоизлияния в правый желудочек сердца, множественного двустороннего перелома ребер, обильного внутреннего кровотечения в грудную полость. Указанные повреждения могли возникнуть в результате воздействия большой силы, повлекшей за собой тяжкую закрытую смертельную травму грудной клетки у Дубининой. Причем повреждения прижизненного характера и являются результатом воздействия большой силы с последующим падением, броском или ушибом области грудной клетки Дубининой.» — death from extensive hemorrhage into the right ventricle of the heart, multiple bilateral rib fractures and abundant internal bleeding into the chest cavity; the injuries could have arisen from the action of **great force** entailing a severe closed fatal chest injury; they are **of in-life character** and the result of great force with subsequent fall, throw or bruising of the chest. Head soft-tissue injuries and bath skin are post-mortem changes (putrefaction and decomposition) of a body lately in water. Violent death. No meal timing, no alcohol statement.

**F154.** Note what the Dubinina Act does *not* say: it does not call the tongue loss in-life or post-mortem, does not describe any hemorrhage at the tongue root or mouth floor, records the stomach content as a mucous mass (not blood), and does not comment on the eyes.

---

## 10. Histological analyses — L.358-361, forensic expert Ganz, 29 May 1959

Four reports (№64/600-67/603), each "at the request of forensic expert Vozrozhdenny", on pieces of skin, bone and internal organs "to resolve the question of the presence of hemorrhages". Staining: **«Окраска г/э и пикрофуксином»** — haematoxylin-eosin and picrofuchsin (van Gieson) (the English says "Wright-Giemsa", which is wrong). No histology exists in the file for the five February/March bodies (see F221).

**F155. Thibeaux-Brignolle (№66/602, L.358).** Sternum with soft tissue — no hemorrhages visible, red marrow putrefied. Rib — «Между костными балками кровь в состоянии гнилостного разложения» (blood between the bone trabeculae in a state of putrefaction). Skin — epidermis absent, **hemorrhages in the dermis with brown pigment**. Thyroid with surrounding muscles — no hemorrhages, gland putrefied. **Conclusion: «Кровоизлияния в коже (в дерме)»** — hemorrhages in the skin (dermis).

**F156.** The Thibeaux histology examined sternum, rib, skin and thyroid; **the piece of right temporo-parietal bone taken at autopsy (F135) is not among the specimens reported**, so there is no microscopic confirmation of vital reaction at the skull fracture itself.

**F157. Kolevatov (№64/600, L.359).** Rib with soft tissue — normal structure, no hemorrhages in surrounding soft tissue, pronounced putrefaction. Skin — epidermis flattened, no hemorrhage in the dermis. Kidney — putrefactive changes. Heart — «Наличие щелей между волокнами миокарда» (gaps between myocardial fibres). **Conclusion: «В присланных кусочках … из трупа Колеватова кровоизлияний не обнаружено»** — no hemorrhages found.

**F158. Zolotaryov (№65/601, L.360 and back).** Sternum — no hemorrhages. **Rib — «Гнилостные изменения, в мягких тканях видны костные отломки и кровоизлияния, клеточной реакции не видно»** (putrefaction; bone fragments and hemorrhages visible in the soft tissue; **no cellular reaction seen**). Skin — superficial epidermis absent, hemorrhages in the dermis with brown pigment and cell shadows, putrefaction. Muscle — putrefaction. **Heart — «Щели между волокнами миокарда, полнокровие сосудов, диапедезные кровоизлияния»** (gaps between fibres, vascular plethora, diapedetic hemorrhages).

**F159.** Zolotaryov conclusion: «Кровоизлияния в коже (в дерме), сердечной мышце и мягких тканях, в области перелома ребра без клеточной реакции» — hemorrhages in the skin, in the **heart muscle** and in the soft tissues at the rib fracture, **without cellular reaction**.

**F160.** Thus the "hemorrhage into the cardiac muscle" of Zolotaryov that Vozrozhdenny cites in testimony (F189) rests on this microscopic finding (diapedetic hemorrhages), not on anything recorded macroscopically in his Act (F116).

**F161. Dubinina (№67/603, L.361).** **Rib — «Поперечный перелом ребра с кровоизлиянием в месте перелома, без клеточной реакции»** (transverse rib fracture with hemorrhage at the fracture site, **without cellular reaction**). **Hyoid bone — «Кровоизлияний не видно»** (no hemorrhages seen). Skin — epidermis absent in places, hemorrhages in the dermis with brown pigment and cell shadows. Heart — gaps between fibres, **small hemorrhages in the myocardium**.

**F162.** Dubinina conclusion: «Кровоизлияния в коже (в дерме), кровоизлияние в месте перелома ребра без клеточной реакции, мелкие кровоизлияния в миокарде.» The absence of hemorrhage at the hyoid means the "broken" hyoid horns (F149) have no histological sign of vital injury.

**F163. Timing significance.** "Hemorrhage … without cellular reaction" (no leukocyte infiltration) is the histological signature of an injury that bled in life (or peri-mortem) but was not survived long enough for an inflammatory response to develop — i.e. death within minutes to at most an hour or so of the chest fractures of Dubinina and Zolotaryov. This is the only laboratory-based timing evidence in the file; it agrees with Vozrozhdenny's 10-20 minute estimate for Dubinina and its "Zolotaryov could have lived longer" (both F190).

## 11. Radiological expertise — L.370-377, Chief Radiologist of Sverdlovsk Levashov, 18-29 May 1959

Procedural note on L.369 back: «Л.Д. 370-378 как не относящиеся к делу изъяты и хранятся в особом секторе облпрокуратуры. 10.VII.59 г. Прокурор-криминалист (Иванов)» — sheets 370-378 were removed on 10 July 1959 "as not relevant to the case" and kept in the special sector of the regional prosecutor's office; they were returned to the archived file before 1996 (site's editorial note).

**F164. The order (L.370, 18 May 1959, Ivanov).** «принимая во внимание, что для выяснения причин гибели туристов необходимо произвести радиологические исследования и решить вопрос о радиоактивном заражении одежды туристов … назначить … физико-техническую экспертизу для разрешения следующих вопросов: 1. Имеется ли радиоактивное заражение одежды и частей трупов погибших туристов.» Expert: Chief Radiologist of Sverdlovsk Levashov. Materials: «всю одежду Золотарева, Дубининой, Колеватова и Тибо-Бриньоль, а также части их трупов» — all the clothing of Zolotaryov, Dubinina, Kolevatov and Thibeaux-Brignolle and parts of their bodies. Only the ravine four were tested; nothing from the first five bodies or from the tent.

**F165.** Levashov signed the warning of liability under arts. 92 and 95 of the RSFSR Criminal Code on 18.V.1959 (L.371). Reference note by Ivanov (L.371 back): objects are numbered **№1 Kolevatov, №2 Zolotaryov, №3 Thibeaux-Brignolle, №4 Dubinina**, "as in the autopsy acts". Studies carried out in the radiological laboratory from 18 to 25 May 1959; conclusion signed 27.05.1959; the answers to additional questions 29.05.1959.

**F166. Preliminary dosimetry (L.372).** «Предварительно были проведены дозиметрические замеры одежды на приборе "Тисс" при которых выявлено завышение естественного фона на 200—300 имп/мин.» — dosimetric measurements of the clothing on the «Тисс» instrument showed an excess over the natural background of **200-300 counts per minute**.

**F167. Maximum contamination (L.372).** Radiometric measurement without ashing, in a lead housing with four STS-6 cassette counters, established the maximum contamination on individual areas of clothing: **brown sweater from №4 (Dubinina) — 9900 disintegrations/min per 150 cm²; lower part of the трousers («шаровар») from №1 (Kolevatov) — 5000 disp/min per 150 cm²; sweater waistband («пояс свитра») from №1 — 5600 disp/min per 150 cm².** Note the Russian distinguishes «имп/мин» (counts) from «расп/мин» (disintegrations); the English page renders both as "cpm".

**F168. Table 2 «Загрязненность одежды» (L.372 back, read from the scan).** Columns: area measured (cm²); gross count (counts/min), before / after washing; activity of the contaminated area (disp/min); activity recalculated to 150 cm² (disp/min).

| № | Item | Area cm² | Gross counts/min (before → after washing) | Activity of the area (disp/min) before → after | Per 150 cm² before → after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soil («Земля») from №1 | – | 96 | – | – |
| 2 | Sweater waistband from №1 (Kolevatov) | 70 | 384, 306 → 244, 218 | 2600 → 1280 | **5600 → 2700** |
| 3 | Lower part of trousers («шаровар») from №1 | 55 | 297, 265 → 210, 184 | 1840 → 970 | **5000 → 2600** |
| 4 | [unnamed item] from №2 (Zolotaryov) | 60 | 182, 160 → 182, 163 | 820 → 560 | 2000 → 1400 |
| 5 | Sheepskin padded vest («овчина телогрейка») from №2 | 60 | 176 → 156 | 770 → 370 | 1920 → 940 |
| 6 | Lower part of trousers from №3 (Thibeaux) | 66 | 120 → 111 | 270 → 100 | 600 → 230 |
| 7 | Jacket («куртка») from №4 (Dubinina) | 88 | 210 → 177 | 1070 → 690 | 1800 → 1160 |
| 8 | Black leggings («черные рейтузы») from №4 | 77 | 164 → 140 | 660 → 360 | 1280 → 700 |
| 9 | White sweater from №4 | 63 | 185 → 163 | 850 → 560 | 1840 → 1340 |
| 10 | Brown sweater from №4 | 75 | 640 → 390 | 4900 → 2600 | **9900 → 5200** |

«Пересчет производился на установке Б-2 в свинцовом домике с кассетным счетчиком СТС-6 в количестве 4-х штук. Коэффициент пересчета установки Б-2 k = 8,9; фон в свинцовом домике (до промывки) 90 имп/мин; (после промывки) 100 имп/мин.» — B-2 unit, four STS-6 counters, conversion factor k = 8.9, lead-house background 90 counts/min before washing and 100 after. (Check: (384−90)×8.9 ≈ 2600; 2600×150/70 ≈ 5600; 4900×150/75 = 9800 ≈ 9900 — the columns are internally consistent.)

**F169.** The soil sample from Kolevatov's body site gave 96 counts/min against a background of 90 — i.e. no measurable activity. Only three items exceed 5000 disp/min per 150 cm²; the other seven lie between 600 and 2000.

**F170. Washing test (L.373).** «Опытная промывка одежды показала, что загрязнение снимается, процент отмывки колеблется от 30% до 60% (промывка одежды производилась в проточной холодной воде в течение 3-х часов).» — experimental washing in running cold water for 3 hours removed 30-60 % of the contamination.

**F171. Type of radiation (L.373).** «При определении вида излучения установлено, что активность имеет место за счет бета-частиц. Альфа-частицы и гамма-кванты не обнаружены.» — the activity is due to **beta particles; alpha particles and gamma quanta were not detected**. «Отсутствие соответствующих приборов и условий в лаборатории не позволило провести радиохимический и спектрометрический анализ для определения химической структуры излучателя и энергии его излучения» — no radiochemical or spectrometric analysis was possible, so the emitting nuclide and its energy were never identified.

**F172. Biosubstrates method (L.373).** Measured on unit B-2 (№2554) in a lead house with a BFA-25 counter; calibrated against a strontium preparation of 7000 and 2000 disp/min; conversion factor 5.5. Samples were ashed (weighed portion, raw weight and ash weight are tabulated).

**F173. Table 1 — tissue samples (L.373 back, read from the scan).** Columns: weighed portion (g); raw sample weight (g); ash weight (g); background (counts/min); count above background (counts/min); activity (disp/kg/min); activity (Curie/kg).

| № | Sample | Weighed g | Raw g | Ash g | Bkg | Above bkg | disp/kg/min | Ci/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intestine №1 | 0.2 | 24.42 | 0.670 | 23 | 3 | 2000 | 0.9·10⁻⁹ |
| 2 | Liver №1 | 0.2 | 19.130 | 0.690 | 22 | 3 | 3000 | 1.35·10⁻⁹ |
| 3 | Brain №1 | 0.2 | 42.820 | 0.710 | 26 | 4 | 1850 | 0.85·10⁻⁹ |
| 4 | Heart №1 | 0.2 | 8.500 | 1.300 | 24 | 2 | 8400 | 3.8·10⁻⁹ |
| 5 | Skin №1 | 0.25 | 1.400 | 0.025 | 24 | – | – | – |
| 6 | Intestine №2 | 0.2 | 20.470 | 0.350 | 23 | 6 | 2800 | 1.25·10⁻⁹ |
| 7 | Liver №2 | 0.2 | 13.590 | 0.480 | 29 | 6 | 5800 | 2.6·10⁻⁹ |
| 8 | Brain №2 | 0.2 | 41.00 | 0.840 | 26 | 4 | 2200 | 1.0·10⁻⁹ |
| 9 | Stomach №2 | 0.2 | 24.460 | 0.480 | 29 | 3 | 1600 | 0.85·10⁻⁹ |
| 10 | Sternum №2 (RU transcription wrongly "Печень") | 0.2 | 4.170 | 0.740 | 24 | – | – | – |
| 11 | Sternum, rib №2 | 0.2 | 4.300 | 0.390 | 24 | – | – | – |
| 12 | Thigh skin №2 | 0.022 | 6.500 | 0.300 | 24 | – | – | – |
| 13 | Intestines №3 | 0.2 | 21.770 | 0.740 | 23 | 3 | 2800 | 1.25·10⁻⁹ |
| 14 | Liver №3 | 0.2 | 33.00 | 0.920 | 20 | 6 | 4600 | 2.0·10⁻⁹ |
| 15 | Kidney №3 | 0.08 | 10.10 | 0.080 | 26 | – | – | – |
| 16 | Skin №3 | 0.014 | 1.150 | 0.040 | 24 | – | – | – |
| 17 | Sternum №3 | 0.2 | 7.200 | 1.300 | 24 | – | – | – |
| 18 | Intestines №4 | 0.058 | 14.10 | 0.100 | 23 | – | – | – |
| 19 | Liver №4 | 0.2 | 18.830 | 0.490 | 34 | 7 | 5000 | 2.2·10⁻⁹ |
| 20 | Kidneys №4 | 0.2 | 18.470 | 0.330 | 27 | 4 | 2000 | 0.9·10⁻⁹ |
| 21 | Skin №4 | 0.091 | 11.910 | 0.100 | 27 | 4 | 900 | 0.4·10⁻⁹ |
| 22 | Thigh skin №4 | 0.2 | 7.600 | 0.280 | 24 | 2 | 2000 | 0.9·10⁻⁹ |
| 23 | Shin skin №4 | 0.1 | 3.840 | 0.150 | 24 | – | – | – |
| 24 | Heart №4 | 0.2 | 12.720 | 0.350 | 24 | 4 | 3000 | 1.4·10⁻⁹ |
| 25 | Rib №4 | 0.177 | 1.300 | 0.180 | 24 | – | – | – |

All counts above background are 2-7 counts/min — at the noise floor. The highest computed value (heart №1, 3.8·10⁻⁹ Ci/kg) comes from a 2 count/min excess on a 0.2 g portion and is matched by the control heart (F175).

**F174.** Range of tissue activities: 0.4-3.8·10⁻⁹ Ci/kg (≈ 15-140 Bq/kg). For orientation only: natural K-40 in a living adult is ≈ 60 Bq/kg; the 1959 figures are of that order.

**F175. Table 3 — control samples (L.374, read from the scan).** Tissues «человека, погибшего при аварии автомашины в городе Свердловске» (a person killed in a car accident in Sverdlovsk), supplied by Vozrozhdenny:

| Sample | Weighed g | Raw g | Ash g | Bkg | Above bkg | disp/kg/min | Ci/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lung | 0.2 | 23.100 | 0.700 | 24 | +3 | 2500 | 1.1·10⁻⁹ |
| Kidney | 0.2 | 30.200 | 0.920 | 24 | +1 | – | – |
| Liver | 0.2 | 26.030 | 0.960 | 24 | +1 | – | – |
| Heart | 0.2 | 19.640 | 0.950 | 24 | +6 | 8000 | 3.6·10⁻⁹ |
| Skin | 0.2 | 28.200 | 0.690 | 24 | +3 | 2000 | 0.9·10⁻⁹ |
| Rib | 0.2 | 13.800 | 1.180 | 24 | +2 | 4700 | 2.1·10⁻⁹ |

**F176.** «Пробы тканей человека, погибшего при аварии автомашины в городе Свердловске, показали также наличие естественного радиологического элемента Калия-40 примерно в тех же количествах, что и в таблице №1. Таким образом, результаты исследований в таблице №1 и №3 не превышают усредненных данных по содержанию радиоактивных веществ в органах человека и могут быть обусловлены за счет естественного радиоактивного Калия—40. Излучение по виду относится к Бета-частицам.» — the control tissues showed natural K-40 in about the same amounts as Table 1; the results in Tables 1 and 3 do not exceed averaged data for the content of radioactive substances in human organs and may be due to natural K-40; the radiation is beta. (L.374 and back)

**F177. Conclusions (L.374 back, 27 May 1959).** (1) «Исследованные твердые биосубстраты содержат радиоактивные вещества в пределах естественного содержания, обусловленного Калием-40.» — tissues: within natural content, due to K-40. (2) «Исследованные отдельные образцы одежды содержат несколько завышенные количества радиоактивных веществ или радиоактивного вещества, являющегося бета-излучателем.» — individual clothing samples contain **somewhat elevated** amounts of a beta-emitting radioactive substance(s). (3) «Обнаруженные радиоактивные вещества … при промывке образцов одежды проявляют тенденцию к смыванию, т.е. вызваны не нейтронным потоком и наведенной радиоактивностью, а радиоактивным загрязнением бета-частицами.» — they wash off, therefore they are **not neutron-induced activity but surface contamination** by beta emitters.

**F178. Additional questions (L.375 typed; handwritten originals L.376-377, verified against the scans; signed 29.05.1959).** Q1: «Должна ли быть (может ли быть) повышенная загрязненность одежды радиоактивными веществами в обычных условиях, т.е. без нахождения в радиоактивно загрязненной среде или месте?» — Should there (can there) be elevated radioactive contamination of clothing in ordinary conditions, i.e. without having been in a radioactively contaminated environment or place? **A: «Не должно быть совершенно.»** — There should be none at all.

**F179.** Q2: «Имелась ли загрязненность объектов, исследуемых вами?» A: «Как указано в заключении, имеется загрязненность радиоактивными веществами (веществом) бета-излучателями отдельных, выборочных участков одежды, присланных образцов. Так, например, вырезка от № 4 — свитр коричневый на момент исследования имел 9900 распадов бета-частиц в минуту на 150 см2, а после промывки (в течение 3-х часов у нас) он дал 5200 распадов в минуту бета-частиц со 150 см2.» — there is contamination by beta-emitting substance(s) of individual, selected areas of the clothing samples; e.g. the cut from №4, brown sweater: 9900 beta disintegrations/min per 150 cm² at the time of study, 5200 after 3 hours' washing. (In the handwritten original the expert writes «β-излучателями» with the Greek letter.)

**F180. The norm cited.** «Для примера можно сказать, что согласно санитарным правилам, существующим у нас, загрязненность в бета-частицах со 150 см2 в минуту не должна превышать до очистки (промывки) 5000 распадов, а после очистки (промывки) должен быть естественный фон, т.е. столько, сколько дает космическое излучение на всех людей и все предметы в данной местности, это норма для работающих с радиоактивными веществами.» — per the sanitary rules in force, beta contamination per 150 cm² per minute must not exceed **5000 disintegrations before cleaning (washing), and after cleaning must be at natural background** — "this is the norm for those who work with radioactive substances". (L.375)

**F181.** «Вырезка от №1 - пояс свитра показывает до промывки 5600 распадов, а после промывки — 2700. Нижняя часть шаровар от № 1 показывает 5000 распадов до промывки и 2600 после промывки.» — Kolevatov's sweater waistband 5600 → 2700; lower part of his trousers 5000 → 2600. Investigator's remark recorded in the protocol: «В ваших данных указывается, что все эти объекты до исследования находились длительное время в проточной воде, т.е. уже были промыты.» — all these objects had been in running water for a long time before the study, i.e. were already washed. (L.375)

**F182.** Q3: «Можно ли считать, что данная одежда загрязнена радиоактивной пылью?» **A: «Да, одежда загрязнена или радиоактивной пылью, выпавшей из атмосферы, или эта одежда была подвержена загрязнению при работе с радиоактивными веществами, или при контакте. Это загрязнение превышает, как я уже указывал, норму для лиц, работающих с радиоактивными веществами.»** — Yes: contaminated either by radioactive dust fallen from the atmosphere, or by contamination during work with radioactive substances, or by contact; this contamination exceeds the norm for persons working with radioactive substances. (L.375, 377)

**F183.** Q4: what could the degree of contamination have been, given that before the study the objects had been in running water for about 15 days? A: «Можно полагать, что загрязненность отдельных участков одежды была во много раз большей, но здесь надо учитывать, что одежда могла промываться неравномерно, то есть с разной степенью интенсивности» — the contamination of individual areas could have been many times greater, but washing could have been uneven. (L.375, 377 back)

**F184. What was and was not exceeded.** By the expert's own stated norm (≤ 5000 disp/min/150 cm² before washing; background after), three items exceeded it before washing (9900, 5600, 5000 — the last at the limit) and all three remained far above background after washing (5200, 2700, 2600). The remaining seven items were below 5000 before washing but also above background after washing. The tissues did not exceed natural levels. The expert never states a value for "natural background" on clothing; the preliminary dosimetry gave 200-300 counts/min excess over background (F166).

**F185.** Items named as tested but with no counterpart in the autopsy clothing lists: a "jacket" («куртка») and a "white sweater" from №4 Dubinina (her Act lists a greyish-brown and a beige wool sweater; vol. 2 sheet 16 notes a *white cotton sweater not hers*); a sheepskin «телогрейка» from №2 Zolotaryov (his Act lists a sheepskin fur waistcoat). Kolevatov's tested «шаровары» presumably = his canvas bib-overalls or baize ski trousers. No clothing of Thibeaux other than "lower part of trousers" appears in Table 2.

## 12. Interrogation of forensic expert Vozrozhdenny — L.381-383, by Ivanov, 28 May 1959

Personal data (L.381): Vozrozhdenny Boris Alekseevich, b. 1922, Gomel; graduated Sverdlovsk State Medical Institute 1954, trained at its chair of forensic medicine; no publications; medical experience since 1954; forensic expert; non-party; no convictions; Sverdlovsk, ul. Kollektivnaya 5, apt. 15.

**F186. Force needed for Thibeaux's injury.** Q: «От действия какой силы Тибо мог получить такие повреждения?» A: «В заключении указано, что повреждения головы у Тибо могли быть результатом броска, падения или отбрасывания тела. Я не полагаю, что эти повреждения Тибо мог получить при падении с высоты своего роста, т.е, что он поскользнулся и ударился головой. Обширный, вдавленный, многооскольчатый и очень глубокий (перелом свода и основания черепа) перелом может быть результатом отбрасывания автомобилем, движущимся с большой скоростью или при прочей транспортной травме. Такая травма могла быть если Тибо порывом сильного ветра был отброшен с падением и ушибом головы о камни, лед и т.п.» — The head injuries could have resulted from a throw, a fall or the body being flung. **I do not believe Thibeaux could have received them by falling from the height of his own stature, i.e. slipping and striking his head.** An extensive, depressed, comminuted and very deep fracture (of the vault and base) **can result from being thrown by a car moving at high speed, or from other transport trauma**. Such an injury could have happened if Thibeaux had been flung by a gust of strong wind, with a fall and impact of the head against rocks, ice etc. (L.381 back)

**F187. Struck with a stone?** Q: «Можно ли предположить, что Тибо был ударен камнем, который был в руке человека?» **A: «В этом случае были бы повреждены мягкие ткани, а этого не обнаружено.»** — In that case the soft tissues would have been damaged, and this was not found. (L.381 back)

**F188. Thibeaux's survival and mobility.** Q: how long did he live, could he move, speak? A: «После указанной травмы Тибо находился в состоянии тяжелой контузии головного мозга, т.е. был в бессознательном состоянии. Передвижение его было затруднено, и в последующее время он передвигаться не мог. Я считаю, что он не мог передвигаться даже, если бы его вели под руки. Его могли только нести или тащить. Признаки жизни он мог проявлять в пределах 2-3 часов.» — after the injury he was in a state of severe brain contusion, i.e. unconscious; movement was hindered and subsequently he could not move; **he could not have walked even supported under the arms; he could only have been carried or dragged; he could have shown signs of life for up to 2-3 hours**. (L.381 back-382)

**F189. Dubinina and Zolotaryov — one cause?** A: «Я считаю, что характер повреждений у Дубининой и Золотарева - множественный перелом ребер: у Дубининой двусторонний и симметричный, у Золотарева односторонний, а также кровоизлияние в сердечную мышцу как у Дубининой, так и у Золотарева с кровоизлиянием в плевральные полости свидетельствуют о их прижизненности и являются результатом воздействия большой силы, приблизительно такой, какая была применена в отношении Тибо. Указанные повреждения, а именно при такой картине и без нарушения целости мягких тканей грудной клетки очень похожи на травму, возникшую при воздушной взрывной волне.» — the multiple rib fractures (bilateral and symmetrical in Dubinina, one-sided in Zolotaryov) and the **hemorrhage into the heart muscle in both**, with hemorrhage into the pleural cavities, testify that they were **inflicted in life** and are the result of **great force, approximately such as was applied to Thibeaux**; such injuries, **with this picture and without breach of the integrity of the soft tissues of the chest, are very similar to an injury arising from an air blast wave** («воздушной взрывной волне»). The English page adds "of a bomb"; the Russian does not. (L.382)

**F190. Survival times.** Q: «Сколько времени могли жить Дубинина и Золотарев?» A: «Смерть Дубининой наступила через 10-20 минут после получения травмы. Она могла быть в сознании. Бывает, что человек с раной сердца (обширная ножевая рана) говорит, бежит, просит о помощи. У Дубининой положение осложнялось травматическим шоком, вызванным двусторонним переломом ребер, с последующим внутренним кровотечением в плевральные полости. Золотарев мог жить дольше. Надо учесть, что все они тренированные, физически развитые, выносливые люди.» — **Dubinina died 10-20 minutes after the injury. She could have been conscious.** It happens that a person with a heart wound (an extensive knife wound) talks, runs, asks for help. Her situation was complicated by traumatic shock from the bilateral rib fractures with subsequent bleeding into the pleural cavities. **Zolotaryov could have lived longer.** All of them were trained, physically developed, hardy people. (L.382-383)

**F191.** No question about whether Dubinina could *walk* appears in the protocol; the nearest statement is F190 ("could have been conscious … a person with a heart wound … runs"). No question about Kolevatov, Slobodin, or the first five is recorded. The protocol carries the standard printed footnote on what an expert conclusion should contain (L.381 back).

## 13. Forensic content of the resolution closing the case — L.384-387, Ivanov, approved by Klinov, 28 May 1959

(The draft in volume 2, sheets 18-22, has the same forensic sentences; the only difference is «на трупах» for «на всех трупах» in F202.)

**F192.** «Судебно-медицинской экспертизой установлено, что Дятлов, Дорошенко, Кривонищенко и Колмогорова скончались от действия низкой температуры (замерзли), ни один из них не имел телесных повреждений, не считая мелких царапин и ссадин.» — Dyatlov, Doroshenko, Krivonischenko and Kolmogorova died of low temperature; none had bodily injuries apart from small scratches and abrasions. (L.386) — This silently omits Krivonischenko's burns, nose defect and hand avulsion, and the scalp hemorrhages of Krivonischenko.

**F193.** «Слободин имел трещину черепа длиной 6 см., которая разошлась до 0,1 см., но умер Слободин от охлаждения.» — Slobodin had a skull fissure 6 cm long, gaping to 0.1 cm, but died of cooling. (L.386)

**F194.** Watches as forensic timing markers: «На левой руке Слободина, откинутой в сторону, обнаружены часы, которые показывали 8 часов 45 минут. Часы Дятлова показывали 5 часов 31 минуту.» «На руке Тибо обнаружено двое часов – одни из них показывают 8 часов 14 минут, вторые - 8 часов 39 минут.» (L.386) — consistent with the Acts (F2, F40, F123).

**F195.** Positions: «Дятлов лежал на спине, головой в сторону палатки, рукой обхватив ствол небольшой березы. Слободин и Колмогорова лежали лицом вниз, поза их свидетельствовала о том, что они ползли к палатке.» Distances: Doroshenko and Krivonischenko by the fire 1500 m from the tent; Dyatlov 300 m from the fire toward the tent; Slobodin 180 m further; Kolmogorova 150 m further; the three on a straight line fire→tent. (L.386)

**F196.** Ravine: «4 мая 1959 г. в 75 метрах от костра, по направлению к долине четвертого притока Лозьвы … под слоем снега в 4-4,5 метрах, обнаружены трупы Дубининой, Золотарева, Тибо-Бриньоль и Колеватова. На трупах, а так же и нескольких метрах от них обнаружена одежда Кривонищенко и Дорошенко - брюки, свитры. Вся одежда имеет следы ровных разцезов, т.к. снималась уже с трупов Дорошенко и Кривонищенко.» — clothing of Krivonischenko and Doroshenko (trousers, sweaters) found on and near the bodies; **all of it bears even cuts, since it was removed from the corpses** of Doroshenko and Krivonischenko (the English mistranslates «снималась» as "photographed"). (L.386)

**F197.** «Погибшие Тибо-Бриньоль и Золотарев обнаружены хорошо одетыми, хуже одета Дубинина - ее куртка из искусственного меха и шапочка оказались на Золотареве, разутая нога Дубининой завернута в шерстяные брюки Кривонищенко. Около трупов обнаружен нож Кривонищенко, которым срезались у костра молодые пихты.» — Thibeaux and Zolotaryov well dressed; Dubinina worse — her artificial-fur jacket and cap were on Zolotaryov; her bare foot wrapped in Krivonischenko's wool trousers; Krivonischenko's knife, used to cut young firs at the fire, found near the bodies. (L.386) — The Dubinina Act describes the wrapping as a piece of a burned grey wool *cardigan with a sleeve* (F138), not trousers.

**F198.** «Судебно-медицинским вскрытием трупов установлено, что смерть Колеватова наступила от действия низкой температуры (замерз), Колеватов не имеет телесных повреждений.» — Kolevatov froze; **"Kolevatov has no bodily injuries"** — the resolution's wording, not the Act's (F99-F102). (L.386)

**F199.** «Смерть Дубининой, Тибо-Бриньоль и Золотарева наступила в результате множественных телесных повреждений. У Дубининой имеется семметричный перелом ребер: справа 2, 3, 4, 5 и слева 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Кроме того, обширное кровоизлияние в сердце.» (L.386)

**F200.** «Тибо-Бриньоль имеет обширное кровоизлияние в правую височную мышцу - соответственно ему - вдавленный перелом костей черепа размером 3 х 7 см., с дефектом кости 3 х 2 см.» — the resolution gives the depressed fracture as **3 x 7 cm with a bone defect 3 x 2 cm**; the Act says **9 x 7 cm with a defect 3 x 3.5 x 2 cm** (F130). (L.387)

**F201.** «Золотарев имеет перелом ребер справа 2, 3, 4, 5 и 6 по окологрудной и средне-ключичной линии, что и повлекло его смерть.» — the resolution places Zolotaryov's fractures on the parasternal and **midclavicular** lines; the Act says parasternal and **mid-axillary** (F119). (L.387)

**F202.** The finding: «Учитывая отсутствие на всех трупах наружных телесных повреждений и признаков борьбы, наличие всех ценностей группы, а также принимая во внимание заключение судебно-медицинской экспертизы о причинах смерти туристов, следует считать, что причиной гибели туристов явилась стихийная сила, преодолеть которую туристы были не в состоянии.» — considering the **absence on all the bodies of external bodily injuries** and of signs of a struggle, the presence of all the group's valuables, and the forensic conclusions on the causes of death, the cause of death was a natural (elemental) force the hikers were unable to overcome. Case closed under art. 4 §5 RSFSR CPC. (L.387)

## 14. Cross-cutting facts: timing, procedure, what is missing

**F203. "6-8 hours after the last meal"** is stated identically in all five February/March Acts (Dyatlov L.126, Kolmogorova L.134, Slobodin L.102, Doroshenko L.111, Krivonischenko L.119): «прием пищи у него/нее был за 6-8 часов до момента смерти». It is stated for none of the ravine four. The stomach findings behind it vary: ~100 cm³ (Dyatlov, Slobodin), ~150 cm³ (Doroshenko), "traces" (Kolmogorova, Krivonischenko) — yet the same 6-8 h is given for all five.

**F204. Vishnevsky spots** (gastric mucosal hemorrhages, the classic sign of death by hypothermia) are recorded in all five March bodies and in none of the ravine four. Frostbite of III-IV degree of fingers/toes is recorded for all five March bodies; none for the ravine four (whose hands/feet show only post-mortem "bath skin").

**F205. Bladder volumes** (a marker the examiner uses for freezing — "overfilled bladder"): Dyatlov 1000, Kolevatov 700, Krivonischenko 500, Zolotaryov 500, Kolmogorova 300, Slobodin 200, Doroshenko 150 cm³; Thibeaux empty; Dubinina not recorded.

**F206. Blood in the heart**: Doroshenko 270, Dyatlov 250, Krivonischenko 200, Kolmogorova 150, Slobodin 100, Kolevatov 100, Zolotaryov 50, Dubinina 50 cm³, Thibeaux "traces / dry heart". **Pleural cavities**: Dubinina 1.5 l blood, Zolotaryov 1 l blood, Slobodin 1 l bloody effusion, Kolevatov 0.5 l bloody fluid; free in the other five.

**F207. Rigor and lividity.** Rigor is "resolved" in all nine (fully, for Slobodin). Livor is posterior in all; also right-lateral in Kolevatov and Zolotaryov, posterolateral in Thibeaux, posterior-and-lateral in Dubinina. No body temperatures, no cooling estimates, no post-mortem interval estimates appear in any Act. No ice bed, ice crust or "cap" of ice on any body is mentioned in any forensic document.

**F208. In-life ("вital") injuries explicitly recorded by hemorrhage into underlying tissue.** Dyatlov: ankle abrasions, knuckles. Kolmogorova: none stated individually (the conclusion's generic sentence only). Slobodin: facial abrasions; scalp/temporal-muscle hemorrhages; subdural bloody fluid. Doroshenko: 2nd-metacarpal abrasion; left-forearm skin wound. Krivonischenko: right temporal/occipital scalp hemorrhage (implicit; no "in life" label). Kolevatov: inner left knee. Thibeaux: right upper-arm bruise; temporal-muscle hemorrhage; skull fracture ("of in-life origin"). Zolotaryov: rib fractures with intercostal hemorrhage ("arose in life"). Dubinina: left-thigh bruise; rib fractures with intercostal hemorrhage; manubrium hemorrhage; right-ventricular hemorrhage ("of in-life character"). Injuries explicitly recorded as **without** hemorrhage: Dyatlov's knees; Doroshenko's right-upper-arm abrasions; Krivonischenko's right chest and hypochondrium abrasions; Kolevatov's 25 x 15 thigh indentation.

**F209. The examiner's mechanism vocabulary.** For the March five: «тупым орудием … в результате падения или ушиба о камни, лед и прочее» (blunt instrument; fall or bruising on rocks, ice etc.). For the ravine three: «воздействия большой силы» (great force) «с последующим падением, броском и/или ушибом» (with subsequent fall, throw and/or bruising), and for Zolotaryov «в момент падения его, сдавления или отбрасывания» (at the moment of his fall, compression or being flung). In testimony: not a fall from his own height; comparable to being thrown by a fast-moving car or other transport trauma; no soft-tissue damage so not a hand-held stone; "very similar to an air blast wave"; Dubinina 10-20 min; Thibeaux 2-3 h unconscious; Zolotaryov longer.

**F210. Procedural sequence.** Decrees ordering the March autopsies: 3 March (Dyatlov, Kolmogorova, Doroshenko, Krivonischenko) and 7 March (Slobodin); autopsies 4 and 8 March. Tissue samples of the five «на экспертизу» were received by the chemical department of the Regional Forensic Laboratory (P. G. Chashchikhina) on **10 March 1959**, «при отношении суд. мед. экс. … от 9/III-59» (vol. 2, sheet 11; the English page dates the covering letter 5.III). Yet every March Act already states «наличие алкоголя не обнаружено». May autopsies: decree 7 May, autopsies 9 May; histology requested by Vozrozhdenny, reported 29 May; radiological order 18 May, report 27 May, supplementary answers 29 May; expert interrogation 28 May; case closed 28 May (i.e. **the case was closed before the histology and the radiological answers were signed**).

**F211. Missing from the file.** (a) No histology or chemical (alcohol) report for Dyatlov, Kolmogorova, Slobodin, Doroshenko or Krivonischenko — only the receipt for their samples. (b) No histology of Thibeaux's skull bone although it was taken. (c) No radiological testing of the first five bodies, of the tent or of the campsite. (d) No bladder finding for Dubinina; no height for Slobodin. (e) No expert opinion in the file on the timing of death of the ravine four relative to the March five, beyond the histology "without cellular reaction" and the testimony's survival estimates. (f) No identification of the beta-emitting nuclide.

**F212. Volume 2 forensic content.** Sheets 23-35 are certified copies of the four May Acts (identical in substance to vol. 1, F94-F153); sheet 11 the 10 March receipt for tissue samples (F210); sheet 16 Ivanov's note on Dubinina's clothing (F137); sheets 18-22 the draft closing resolution (F192-F202). The remaining volume-2 items (receipts for returned effects, correspondence, photographs, camera/film notes, the "Order to Bizyaev" on Mansi involvement) are non-forensic. Two of its effects-notes bear on the watches: «Кривонищенко "Спортивные" 8:15» (returned to his brother 30 May) and «"Победа" on Slobodin's wrist, "Звезда" 5:31 on Dyatlov» — whereas Slobodin's Act records a «Звезда» at 8:45 on his arm and Thibeaux's Act two watches, a «спортивные» (8:14:24) and a «Победа» (8:39). These vol.-2 notes are unsigned draft lists and are flagged, not resolved, in the conflicts file.

**F213. Examiner attribution correction.** The 8 March Slobodin Act is by Vozrozhdenny alone (with Klinov, Ivanov and two witnesses present); Laptev co-signed only the four 4 March Acts. Churkina (forensic criminalist) and Ivanov attended the 9 May Acts; no lay witnesses («понятые») are recorded for the May Acts.

---

## Appendix A — Sources fetched (all HTTP 200 unless noted)

| Document | English | Russian | Scans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slobodin Act №5, L.95-103 | case-files-95-103?rbid=17743 | case-files-95-103-ru?rbid=17747 | gallery-case-files-95-103 |
| Doroshenko Act №2, L.104-111 | case-files-104-111 | -ru | |
| Krivonischenko Act №3, L.112-119 | case-files-112-119 | -ru | |
| Dyatlov Act №1, L.120-126 | case-files-120-126 | -ru | |
| Kolmogorova Act №4, L.127-134 | case-files-127-134 | -ru | |
| Kolevatov, L.345-348 | case-files-345-348 | -ru | |
| Zolotaryov, L.349-351 | case-files-349-351 | -ru | |
| Thibeaux-Brignolle, L.352-354 | case-files-352-354 | -ru | |
| Dubinina, L.355-357 | case-files-355-357 | -ru | |
| Histology, L.358-361 | case-files-358-361 | -ru | |
| Radiology order, L.370 | case-files-370 | -ru | |
| Radiology report, L.371-377 | case-files-371-377 | -ru | scans 372, 372-back, 373-back, 374, 374-back, 375, 376, 376-back, 377, 377-back read from `/resources/340/gallery/Dyatlov-pass-case-files-<n>.jpg` |
| Vozrozhdenny interrogation, L.381-383 | case-files-381-383 | -ru | |
| Closing resolution, L.384-387 | case-files-384-387 | -ru | |
| Also fetched to identify: L.362-369 (Brusnitsyn testimony, not forensic), L.378-380 (Skorykh testimony, not forensic), vol. 1 index (case-files) | | | |
| Volume 2 index (case-files-volume-2); vol. 2 sheets 11, 12, 16, 17, 18-22, 23-26, 27-29, 30-32, 33-35 | ?rbid=19667 | -ru?rbid=19668 | |

Not fetched / failed: `case-files-volume-2-ru` (404 — the vol. 2 index exists in English only; its Russian sub-pages were fetched directly); first guess at scan path `/resources/340/Dyatlov-pass-case-files-*.jpg` returned 404 (correct path is `/resources/340/gallery/...`). Nothing required remained unfetched. Working copies of the raw HTML, text conversions and scans are not included in this folder.