Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht died “peacefully” on Monday at the age of 93, according to Pennsylvania officials.
The former Allegheny County medical examiner analyzed the deaths of President John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, JonBenet Ramsey, Anna Nicole Smith and others. He previously intervened in the cases of Gabby Petito and Ellen Greenberg for Fox News Digital.
“He was the first civilian allowed to examine evidence of President John F. Kennedy's assassination at the National Archives, and the first person to discover that the president's brain and related material were missing,” says an obituary from the Bureau. Administrative. of states with Pennsylvania courts. “He was the nation's leading critic of the Warren Commission's infamous single bullet theory. He personally conducted tens of thousands of autopsies, consulted and testified in countless criminal and civil cases, spoke around the world before professional groups, lay and student faculty, held several faculty appointments, authored dozens of books and hundreds of scholarly articles, and collaborated on numerous film and television projects, including the award-winning films JFK and Concussion.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro described Wecht as “a legendary figure in forensic pathology and criminal justice” in a statement published Monday on X, adding that “the way he pursued truth and justice is an inspiration.” .
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Forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht, who has been conducting a personal investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy for ten years, believes it is still an unsolved murder case. (Getty Images)
“Throughout my career, Cyril showed me genuine kindness and taught me many lessons about public service. Today, Lori and I are praying for his wife Sigrid, their four children, and the entire Wecht family. As I told today to his son: “Judge David Wecht, Cyril lived a full, impactful and meaningful life. May the memory of Cyril Wecht forever be a blessing,” Shaprio said.
Born to immigrant parents on March 20, 1931, Wecht leaves behind his wife Sigrid, their four children and 11 grandchildren, according to the obituary.
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Michael Haag, right, an American crime scene investigator, talks with Dr. Cyril H. Wecht as he gathers evidence in Tainan, March 29, 2004, where an assassination attempt was made on the president of the Republic of China, Chen Shui-bian, March 19. (SAM YEH/AFP)
He graduated from Fifth Avenue High School as valedictorian of his class and went on to study at the University of Pittsburgh. After earning his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Wecht joined the U.S. Air Force.
While serving in the Air Force, Wecht met his wife, whom he married after they were both honorably discharged from the service. He later earned his law degree from the University of Maryland while working at the Medical Examiner's Office and then earned his second law degree from the University of Pittsburgh around the same time his four children were born.
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Dr. Cyril Wecht of Pittsburgh, a witness during the hearings to exhume the body of Mary Jo Kopechne, who testified that in his opinion the body should be exhumed, speaks to reporters on October 21, 1969, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania . (AP Photo/Paul Vathis, File)
“Cyril embarked on a long and stellar career combining his training in medicine and law, and his then-rare experience in the nascent field of forensic pathology. At first, Cyril juggled four jobs: as a forensic pathologist/deputy at the coroner's office, as an assistant district attorney/medico-legal advisor to the district attorney, as a pathologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital – Leech Farm, and as an attorney practicing with his friends David and Roslyn Litman,” states the obituary.
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Pathologist and former Allegheny County coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht speaks during the swearing-in ceremony for Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice and his son, David N. Wecht, Jan. 7, 2016, at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. (Keith Srakocic)
He was then elected Coroner of Allegheny County for several terms and later served as the first Chief Medical Examiner of Allegheny County.
He founded the Pittsburgh Institute of Legal Medicine and the Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Law and Forensic Sciences at Duquesne University, where he taught for about 60 years.
Dr. Cyril H. Wecht gathers evidence in Tainan, March 29, 2004, where an assassination attempt on ROC President Chen Shui-bian occurred on March 19. (SAM YEH/AFP)
“He worked eagerly and expertly to uncover the truth about the deaths and injuries suffered by others, and provided comfort and justice to countless grieving and victimized families around the world. He loved Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and, although he traveled the world, “he would never consider living anywhere else (except for his two years of military service and his brief stay in Baltimore after his discharge),” the obituary says.
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Wecht “loved his family” and made their “happiness, well-being and education” his top priority.
