Cherish Perrywinkle Autopsy Report And Cause Of Death, Case Details And Parents

Cherish Perrywinkle

Cherish Perrywinkle Autopsy report shows many injuries on her body, including scrapes and bruises. She suffered brain swelling due to lack of oxygen, ultimately leading to her death.

Cherish Perrywinkle was a young girl with a big smile and a lot of energy that was simple to identify. She was known for her kind heart, outgoing personality, and love of singing and dancing.

Cherish’s life tragically ended prematurely when she was kidnapped and murdered at eight. Her death shocked and saddened the people of Jacksonville, Florida, and brought attention to the dangers of child predators.

Cherish’s kidnapping and murder were incredibly horrible because the man who did them had been convicted of child sex crimes before.

Cherish Perrywinkle Autopsy Report And Cause Of Death

The autopsy report of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle, performed by Dr. Valerie Rao, revealed that she died of asphyxiation due to manual strangulation.

Donald Smith abducted Cherish from a Walmart, who allegedly raped and killed her before leaving her body in a nearby creek behind Highlands Baptist Church.

During the autopsy, a sexual assault kit was conducted, and significant evidence was collected.

Cherish Perrywinkle Autopsy
Items of clothing from Cherish Perrywinkle and Donald Smith collected by Dr. Valerie Rao (Source: Dailymail)

The autopsy revealed numerous injuries on Cherish’s body, including scrapes and bruises, which Rao believes resulted from being transported to where her body was found.

There were also ant bites on her body that happened after her death. However, all the injuries except the insect activity were determined to have occurred before Cherish’s death.

The cause of Cherish’s death was determined to be mechanical asphyxia, resulting from the tremendous force on her neck that made it impossible for her to breathe.

She suffered brain swelling due to lack of oxygen, ultimately leading to her death.

Hemorrhaging and busted blood vessels around her neck were also observed in autopsy photos, consistent with the pattern of bruising caused by an article of clothing like a t-shirt.

The force used during the strangulation was so strong that Cherish also suffered skin abrasions.

According to Rao’s estimation, it would have taken three to five minutes for Cherish to die in this manner. The autopsy report provided crucial evidence in the trial of Donald Smith and helped to establish the cause and manner of Cherish’s death.

Also Read: Felton Spencer Cause Of Death, How Did He Die? Age And Wikipedia Bio

Cherish Perrywinkle Case Details

The Cherish Perrywinkle case is a heartbreaking example of the devastating consequences of sexual violence and exploitation.

In June 2013, 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered by known sex offender Donald Smith in Jacksonville, Florida.

Cherish and her mother was shopping at a Dollar General store when they met Donald Smith, who offered to buy them clothes with a $150 Walmart gift card.

Cherish Perrywinkle Donald Smith
Cherish Perrywinkle killer Donald Smith (Source: Kidspot)

They went to Walmart with Smith and shopped for two hours. Later that night, Smith offered to get cheeseburgers from McDonald’s, and Cherish followed him.

However, they left the store, and Cherish was never seen alive again. Her mother called the Police to report the kidnapping, and an Amber Alert was issued.

Her body was found the next day in a creek behind a local church. Smith was quickly identified as the abductor and was arrested within hours.

He had a long history of criminal offenses, particularly involving minors. Smith was found guilty of first-degree murder and sexual battery in February 2018 and was sentenced to death in May.

Cherish Perrywinkle Parents

Cherish Lily Perrywinkle was born on December 24, 2004, in the United States and was the eldest daughter of Rayne Perrywinkle and Billy Jarreau.

She grew up in a loving family with her parents and two younger sisters.

Cherish Perrywinkle parents
Cherish Perrywinkle with her Father (Source: Twitter)

However, Cherish’s childhood was not without its challenges. Her parents were never married and had custody battles, which could have been a source of stress for her.

Despite this, her parents tried to provide her with a stable and happy upbringing.

There is no other available information regarding her family.

Also Read: Melissa Highsmith Wikipedia Bio – Where Was She Found? Kidnapper Identity And Story

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