Fred Litwin
May 12, 202211 min
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, alleges that autopsy pathologists were told to fit the wounds to a presupposed conclusion. Here is an excerpt from a transcript: (56:27 in episode 3, in a segment on General Curtis LeMay)
Dr. Gary Aguilar: “But these three autopsy pathologists, who were not really credentialed to do that kind of an autopsy, were given the body, told ‘here’s the body, he was shot from behind, he fell forward’ which they wrote in their autopsy report, ‘figure out how the wounds fit the known circumstances of the shooting'”
Indeed, here are the first two paragraphs from the Clinical Summary of the autopsy report:
Where might the information that the "President fell forward" come from?
Well, it was all over the wire services:
Birmingham News, November 23, 1963
Is it really so unusual to include some of this information in an autopsy report?
“Three shots were heard and the President fell forward bleeding from the head,” the autopsy report stated. It continued with, “According to newspaper reports (‘Washington Post’ 11/23/63) (sic) Bob Jackson, a Dallas Times Herald Photographer (sic), said he looked around as he heard the shots and saw a rifle barrel disappearing into a window on an upper floor of the nearby Texas School Book Depository Building.”[33] Kennedy’s reaction to the fatal shot and the observations of a witness became part of the autopsy evidence that the shots had come from behind. Using credible background information concerning the scene of a murder in autopsy reports is neither improper nor is it unusual. However, in this case the information turned out to be as inaccurate as it likely was influential. (emphasis added)
Here Dr. Aguilar says the information was only "influential."
Dr. Pierre Finck was asked about this at his deposition by the ARRB: (emphasis added)
Q [Jeremy Gunn]: Those are the words that are in the autopsy protocol. Can you tell me why in an autopsy protocol it would be written that a victim fell forward? What relevance does that have to an autopsy protocol?
A: "Fell forward, bleeding from the head." Well, this is part of the clinical summary, the information given, and it's part of the information provided, "fell forward." See, this is not the words of the pathologist. It is information provided to them.
Q: And so the pathologists at the time that they wrote the autopsy protocol were under the impression that President Kennedy had fallen forward after being shot, is that correct?
A: Yes
It appears that Dr. Aguilar is a 'back-and-to-the-leftist,' and that he believes the movement of JFK's head outweighs other evidence. But where is the evidence to sustain the allegations made by Dr. Aguilar?
Dr. Aguilar implies that if the autopsy pathologists knew that JFK's head went 'back and to the left' that they would have written a different autopsy report. But would they? They identified the entry and the exit wounds in JFK's head and they saw the beveling that told them which wound was entry and which wound was exit. The evidence was pretty clear.
Here is a quote from Dr. Humes from an article by Dennis Breo in the Journal of the American Medical Association:
There is no evidence to support Dr. Aguilar's claim that the doctors "were given the body, told 'here's the body, he was shot from behind, he fell forward' .... 'figure out how the wounds fit the known circumstances of the shooting.'" Perhaps James DiEugenio will provide some evidence in his upcoming book on the film.
And every single forensic pathologist who has examined JFK's autopsy x-rays and photographs has come to the same conclusion: that JFK was hit from behind by two
shots, one to the head and one to the upper back/neck.
And we also now know that JFK's head does move forward between Zapruder frames 312
and 313. Nick Nalli's important review of Josiah Thompson's book, Last Second in Dallas, clearly demonstrates that the forward motion was not a "blur illusion."
Here is Nick Nalli's paper which examines the subsequent rearward motion of JFK's head:
It is therefore found that the observed motions [after frame 313] of President Kennedy in the film are physically consistent with a high-speed projectile impact from the rear of the motorcade, these resulting from an instantaneous forward impulse force, followed by delayed rearward recoil and neuromuscular forces.
I want to thank Paul Hoch who noticed the ridiculous allegation made by Dr. Aguilar.
Previous Relevant Blog Posts on JFK: Destiny Betrayed
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on the Katzenbach Memorandum
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers on a memo written by Nicholas Katzenbach about investigating JFK's assassination.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Admiral George Burkley
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, makes several outrageous allegations about Admiral George Burkley, JFK's personal physician. In addition, an appalling new charge is made.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on JFK's Autopsy Photographs (Revisited)
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed misleads viewers on JFK autopsy photographs -- making it appear that a White House photographer took additional pictures that are not in the record. I have covered this in the past and now JFK: Destiny Betrayed makes a new tendentious claim - that the Secret Serviced burned autopsy photographs.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on General Curtis LeMay, Part Two
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, alleges that General Curtis LeMay was at JFK's autopsy.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on General Curtis LeMay, Part One
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, claims that General Curtis LeMay was ordered by General Zuckert to land at Andrews Air Force Base from his holiday in Canada, and that LeMay then decided to go to National Airport. That is not what happened.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on JFK's Head Wound, Part Three
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers on the opinions of Parkland Hospital doctors and Bethesda witnesses regarding JFK's head wound.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on David Ferrie and the CIA
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, erroneously claims that David Ferrie was an asset of the CIA and that he also flew missions for the CIA. This is simply not true.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Israel and Nuclear Weapons
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, makes it appear that Israel was about to use nuclear weapons in the 1973 Yom Kippur war. A key important fact was left out.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Dr. Charles Crenshaw
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, features Dr. Charles Crenshaw to bolster its claim that President Kennedy was shot from the front. Viewers are not informed of Dr. Crenshaw's credibility problems
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on the Harper Fragment
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers into thinking the Harper fragment was occipital bone that came from the back of Kennedy's head
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on JFK's Head Wound, Part Two
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, tries to make the case that because Parkland Hospital doctors saw cerebellum extruding from Kennedy's head wound, that it indicated an exit wound.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on JFK's Head Wound, Part One
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series JFK: Destiny Betrayed uses a variety of supposed witnesses to allege that the wound in the back of Kennedy's head was one of exit. Audrey Bell is one such witness and she doesn't have much credibility.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Jack Ruby
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers on the motivations of Jack Ruby.
An essay on the intellectual monstrosity of JFK: Destiny Betrayed.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Otto Otepka
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers into believing that Otto Otepka uncovered evidence that Oswald was a fake defector.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads by Claiming Jack Ruby was Signaled
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, alleges that Jack Ruby was signaled by car horns in the basement of the Dallas Police Department. The evidence clearly shows that there were many horns being sounded in the basement.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Supposed Extra Bullet, Part Two
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers by intimating that that there was a through-and-through hole in the windshield. This is simply not true.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Oswald's Income
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, makes the erroneous claim that Lee Harvey Oswald was not paid for his last quarter of service in the U.S. Marines.
Oliver Stone Disses the Sixth Floor Museum
JFK: Destiny Betrayed needlessly, and unfairly, criticizes the Sixth Floor Museum.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Supposed Extra Bullet
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, alleges that an extra bullet was found in JFK's limousine the evening of the assassination. This is just not true.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on CIA Involvement in Plot against de Gaulle
JFK: Destiny Betrayed alleges the CIA was involved in an assassination plot against French President Charles de Gaulle. Scenes from a fictional film are used to buttress the allegation. The truth - the CIA had nothing to do with the supposed plot.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Allen Dulles and the Warren Commission
The evidence is clear - Robert Kennedy wanted Allen Dulles on the Warren Commission.
What Ever Happened to Jim Garrison?
Jim Garrison is AWOL in Oliver Stone's so-called documentary JFK: Destiny Betrayed.
Previous Relevant Blog Posts on JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on CE399
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers on the bullet found at Parkland Hospital, CE399. They imply that Darrell Tomlinson, the maintenance employee who found the bullet, said that bullet he found didn't look like CE399. The truth is somewhat different.
"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on JFK's Autopsy Photographs, Part Three
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers into believing there are missing autopsy photographs. In the process, the autopsy photographer is appallingly quoted out of context.
Did the ARRB Prove a Conspiracy in the JFK Assassination?
Oliver Stone makes the claim in his so-called documentary, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass, that the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) turned conspiracy theory into conspiracy fact. This is simply not true.
Oliver Stone Admits "JFK Revisited" is a Flop
Oliver Stone is disappointed that no major movie or TV reviewers have commented on his so-called documentary.
Oliver Stone Claims the Zapruder Film was Altered
Yes, Oliver Stone is an alterationist.
"Guilt by Orientation" - The CIA Strikes Again!
James Kirchick's terrific article on Oliver Stone and homosexuality.
Is the JFK assassination linked to 9/11 and Covid-19?
Just when I thought conspiracy theorists couldn't get any crazier.
Two Important Posts Debunk "JFK Revisited"
Tracy Parnell debunks a series about JFK Revisited on the WhoWhatWhy website, and Andrew Jackson debunks the film on Quora. Both articles are well worth your time.
"JFK Revisited" Misleads on the Autopsy Photographs of JFK, Part Two
Did Saundra Spencer really develop a completely different set of autopsy photographs?
"JFK Revisited" Misleads on Autopsy Photographs of JFK
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary tries to make the case that a White House photographer took photos at the autopsy. The only problem is that there is no evidence he was actually there.
Oliver Stone Pulls the Wool Over Joe Rogan's Eyes, Part Two
Stone misspeaks on the Joe Rogan show about JFK's brain.
Oliver Stone Pulls the Wool over Joe Rogan's Eyes
Stone misspeaks on the Joe Rogan show and I present a challenge to conspiracy theorists.
Jefferson Morley and "JFK Revisited"
Tracy Parnell dissects Morley's article on JFK assassination documents and "JFK Revisited"
"JFK Revisited" Misleads by Putting Words in Kennedy's Mouth, Part Two
Did President Kennedy actually say that he was going to shatter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it to the wind?
"JFK Revisited" Misleads by Putting Words in Kennedy's Mouth...
David Talbot claims that JFK told the French Ambassador that he was not in full control of his entire government. There is no evidence he ever said that.
"JFK Revisited" Misleads on Supposed CIA Support of the 1961 Coup Attempt in France Oliver Stone's so-called documentary claims the CIA supported the 1961 coup attempt against French President Charles de Gaulle in 1961. The only thing missing is evidence.
Max Boot on Oliver Stone's Lies
Max Boot: Oliver Stone just can't stop spreading lies about JFK's assassination.
"JFK Revisited" Misleads on Valery Giscard D'Estaing
Did Gerald Ford really disclose to French President Valery Giscard D'Estaing that the JFK assassination was a conspiracy? Perhaps not.
"JFK Revisited" Star Believes in a Massive COVID Conspiracy
Robert Kennedy, Jr. believes in a massive conspiracy regarding Covid and the intelligence agencies.
"JFK Revisited" Misleads on Kennedy's Back Wound
While Gerald Ford edited some language in the Warren Report, he did not change the location of the back wound. Autopsy photographs show exactly the location of the back wound.
"JFK Revisited" alleges Oswald was "placed"
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary alleges that Oswald was "moved" to Dallas and "placed" in the Texas School Book Depository. This is totally ridiculous.
"JFK Revisited" Misleads on JFK's Throat Wound
The preponderance of the evidence indicates JFK's throat wound was one of exit.
"JFK Revisited" Misleads on the Supposed Chicago Plot There is no evidence that there was actually a plot against JFK in Chicago.
Was James Gochenaur a Credible Witness in "JFK Revisited"?
Gochenaur's writings don't back up his allegations in JFK Revisited.
"JFK Revisited" Misleads on Guy Banister
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary claims that Guy Banister gave Oswald a room at 544 Camp Street. The evidence does not support the allegation.
"JFK Revisited" Misleads on JFK's Brain, Again...
Dr. Robert Kirschner's consultation with the ARRB explains a mystery in the documentary.
"JFK Revisited" Misleads on the Weight of JFK's Brain
JFK Revisited makes a big deal about the weight of JFK's brain and ignores a non-conspiratorial explanation.
JFK Revisited Distorts John Stringer's Testimony
Oliver Stone's so-called documentary makes it sound like the autopsy photographer said that he did not take the photos of JFK's brain that are in the current inventory,
Oliver Stone took to Twitter last weekend to bemoan the fact that the mainstream press is ignoring his so-called documentary, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass.
Oliver Stone with "JFK Revisited" Crucifies Clay Shaw Once Again
There is something really obscene about Oliver Stone once again going after Clay Shaw.
JFK Revisited Doesn't Tell the Whole Truth about John Connally
You won't learn everything you need to know about Connally's position on the shots from Oliver Stone's so-called documentary.
JFK Revisited Uses Marina Porter to Mislead Viewers
Oliver Stone tries to make it seem like Marina Porter has denied taking the backyard photographs of Lee Harvey Oswald.
JFK Revisited: Were the Oswald Backyard Photographs Faked?
Oliver Stone once again raises the issue of the legitimacy of the backyard photographs of Lee Harvey Oswald.
JFK Revisited: Was Clay Shaw the elusive Clay Bertrand?
This post debunks every witness that has ever claimed Shaw was Bertrand.
Oliver Stone's Poverty of Imagination
He cannot imagine any sort of non-conspiratorial explanations for any of the suspicious pieces of evidence in his film.
Was Clay Shaw a "Contract Agent" for the CIA?
No, Clay Shaw was not a "contract agent."
Steve Roe Blog Posts on JFK Revisited & JFK: Destiny Betrayed
Oswald's Marine Corps 3rd Quarter Pay False Mystery
Oswald was paid by the Marine Corps, not ONI, CIA or any other Intelligence agency.
Cartoonists Oliver Stone and James DiEugenio try to Dupe the Public about Dr. Malcolm Perry
JFK: Destiny Betrayed doesn't tell the whole truth about Dr. Malcolm Perry.
Oliver Stone's JFK: Destiny Betrayed Film Never Checked the Facts
Steve Roe finds additional evidence that debunks the allegation in JFK: Destiny Betrayed
that Oswald not paid by the Marines for the 3rd quarter of 1959.
Oliver Stone Disses the Sixth Floor Museum
Stone and DiEugenio falsely accuse the Sixth Floor Museum as openly promoting Oswald as the Assassin.
Oliver Stone's JFK Revisited Screenwriter Reprimanded by ARRB in 1998
An exchange of letters between James DiEugenio and Jeremy Gunn of the ARRB.
Is This How Real Documentaries Are Made? There is some 'interesting' editing in Oliver Stone's so-called documentary.
JFK Revisited Screen Writer Crawfishes on Dallas to Chicago Airmail Overnight Delivery James DiEugenio changes his story on the Klein's money order.
Debunking Another JFK Myth - Overnight Mail from Dallas to Chicago
Conspiracy theorist James DiEugenio doesn't understand the history of the mail deliver in the United States.
JFK Revisited: More Deception and Half-Truths
The truth about Jack Ruby and the FBI.
JFK Revisited: Again, Caught Creating False Mysteries "Stone/DiEugenio hatch another Bogus Mystery with Sinister Strap/Sling Mounts on Oswald's Rifle"
JFK Revisited: Tripping on the Stairs
Oliver Stone claims that Oswald could not have been in the sniper's nest on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. Steve Roe exposes Stone's mistakes.
Oliver Stone doubles-down on the Looney Frontal Shot to the President
In an interview on RT [Russia Today], Oliver Stone says that the throat wound might have been made by a flechette.
Oliver Stone - Deceptive Filmmaker?
Steve Roe presents some examples of Oliver Stone's 'creative' abilities.
A Look at the "JFK Revisited: Through The Looking Glass" Film by Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone distorts the testimony about Oswald's palmprint on the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle.