</s>62-567-807 FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER HQ - HEADQUARTERS Class / Case # Sub Vol. Serial # 006E 587 1 807 only # 3246 7/18/143519 7/8/144519 RRP00AFAZQT 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

**Autopsy and Investigation Details**

Dr. Thomas T. Noguchi performed an autopsy on Senator Robert F. Kennedy's body at the Hospital of the Good Samaritan in Los Angeles. He stated that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the right mastoid region of the skull, with two other gunshot wounds found on the senator's body: one in the back of the right armpit (Wound Number 2) and another near it (Wound Number 3).

Dr. Noguchi testified that he personally retrieved the bullet from Senator Kennedy's back and marked it with his initials "T.N.O." and the last number of a Medical Examiner Coroner's Case Number, which was "31". He identified the bullet as Grand Jury Exhibit 5-A.

**Witness Testimony**

Irwin Swirin, a witness to the assassination, testified that he shook Senator Kennedy's hand after his speech. He then saw the press coming through and left through the curtains behind the podium. Swirin also mentioned seeing Jesse Unruh, Pierre Salinger, and Senator Kennedy go through the kitchen doors.

**Autopsy Findings**

Dr. Noguchi described the entrance wound of Wound Number 1 as being three-quarter inches from the medical standard line, which is called biauricular line. The wound was found three-quarter inch back of this line and also three-quarter inch above it. The bullet entered the skull at a location five inches from the top of the head and two and a half inches from the most posterior portion of the head.

Dr. Noguchi stated that there was an extensive brain damage on the right side of the brain, mainly the cerebellum, and marked swelling of the brain as well as flattening by the pressures inside the brain, causing a flattering of the brain stem.

**Distance and Muzzle Distance**

Dr. Noguchi expressed his opinion that the muzzle distance was very close, possibly a contact wound, where the muzzle was actually up against the body of Senator Kennedy. He based this on the position of the tattooing and powder on the edge of the right ear.

**Cause of Death**

Dr. Noguchi stated that in his opinion, these events resulting from the bullet wound are the ones that caused death.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_ebf_807_sec_001_ser_807_only-part_1_of_6.pdf

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