Coroners Report
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper
Warning! Graphic Descriptions

Buddy Holly

The body of Charles H. Holley was clothed in an outer jacket of yellow leather-like material in which 4 seams in the back were split almost full length. The skull was split medially in the forehead and this extended into the vertex region. Approximately half the brain tissue was absent. There was bleeding from both ears, and the face showed multiple lacerations. The consistency of the chest was soft due to extensive crushing injury to the bony structure. The left forearm was factured 1/3 the way up from the wrist and the right elbow was fractured. Both thighs and legs showed multiple factures. There was a small laceration of the scrotum.

Personal effects found with the body are listed on a separate sheet in this report.

Fingerprints were taken of the deceased for purposes of identification.

(See attached report of investigation)

Ralph E. Smiley, MD Acting coroner

A copy of the transcript of fees has been sent to the County Auditor. A copy of this report is filed with the Clerk of the District Court. A copy of each is filed or recorded in the Coroner's Docket.

I, Ralph E. Smiley Acting, Coroner of Cerro Gordo County Iowa on the 4rd day of Feb. 1959 hereby certify that the above facts are made of record after diligent investigation and I believe them to be correct.

[Signed] Ralph E. Smiley, MD, Coroner.

Personal effects, Charles Holley

Cash $193.00 less $11.65 coroner's fees - $181.35

2 cuff links, silver 1/2 in. balls having jeweled band

Top portion of ball point pen.

To. G. W. Wilcox, Wilcox Funeral Home, 2/4/59

Ritchie Valens

The body of Richard Valenuela was clothed in a black wool cloth overcoat containing a label "Harris & Drank, Los Angeles, Cal.", a black wool cloth suit containing inside, the coat label "Sohel's, San Fernando Cal.", a white shirt and underclothing. On the volar surface of the right forearm was a dark tatoo of initials "R.V." The head was badly crushed and deformed, the calvarium region wide open and the brain tissue almost completely eviscerated; the right side of the face was crushed and flattened and the right eye-socket eviscerated. The facial features were not identifiable. There was marked deformity of the left forearm due to fracture, a 1-inch laceration on the dorsum of the left hand at its junction with the little finger. The left upper femur had marked deformity with fracture while the right tibia showed a compound fracture. There were two shallow lacerations in the medial mid-left shin region. Internal injuries were not appraised because autopsy was not done. Personal effects are listed on a separate sheet in this report.

Fingerprints were taken of the deceased for purposes of identification.

(See attached report of investigation)

A copy of the transcript of fees has been sent to the County Auditor. A copy of this report is filed with the Clerk of the District Court. A copy of each is filed or recorded in the Coroner's Docket.

I, Ralph E. Smiley MD, Coroner of Cerro Gordo County Iowa on the 3rd day of Feb., 1959, hereby certify that the above facts are made of record after diligent investigation and I believe them to be correct.

[Signed] Ralph E. Smiley, MD, [written emedation: acting] Coroner.

Personal effects, Richard Valenzuela

1 silver crucifix and religious medal

Brown leather pocket ease with black lacing and stamped design

Numerous miscellaneous receipts

Several photos

Cash $22.15 less $11.65 coroner's fees - $10.50

Check on Hollywood office California bank. 1600 N. Vine St. Hollywood. Calif. #359

$50.00 (noted - advance as per contract)

Check. same as above. 1360, $50.00 (noted - advance as per contract)

Bracelet siver chain with DONNA attached.

To G. W. Wilcox, Wilcox Funeral Home, 2/4/59

The Big Bopper

The body of Jiles P. Richardson was clothed in a red checked flannel shirt and light blue cotton pants. There was no jacket or overcoat on the body. In one hip pocket of his trousers was a billfold containing his name and other identifying information. The head was badly mangled and misshapen. The skull was split open transversely at the supraorbital ridge and at the vertex. The brain was almost completely eviscerated. The face was flattened and crushed on the right side and not identifiable. There were several deforming fractures of both arms. Across the middle phalanx of the second left finger was a laceration. On the right thigh, extensor surface, was a laceration 8 inches long, while further down on the leg was a large defect including a compound fracture. The left upper medial thigh had a transverse laceration 8 inches long, while the left mid-tibial region showed a small laceration at the site of a compound fracture; The consistency of the chest was soft due to extensive crushing of the bony structure. Internal injuries were not appraised because autopsy was not done. Personal effects found with the body are listed on a separate sheet with this report. Fingerprints were taken of the deceased for purposes of identification.

(See attached report of investigation)

A copy of the transcript of fees has been sent to the County Auditor. A copy of this report is filed with the Clerk of the District Court. A copy of each is filed or recorded in the Coroner's Docket.

I, Ralph E. Smiley MD Acting, Coroner of Cerro Gordo County Iowa on the 4th day of Feb., 1959, hereby certify that the above facts are made of record after diligent investigation and I believe them to be correct.

[Signed] Ralph E. Smiley, MD, Coroner.

Personal effects, Jiles p. Richardson

Cash $272.53, less coroner's fees of $11.65 - $260.88

1 gold wedding ring

1 small gold colored flat key

1 pair dice

1 guitar pick

1 black billfold containing numerous miscellaneous receipts, cards,

Texas' driver's license, musician's identification cards.

To G. W. Wilcox, Wilcox Funeral Home, 2/4/59.