Erie Co. ME looking at Wienckowski case

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Forensic experts in Erie County are now looking at evidence collected by a California pathologist that led her to believe Amanda Wienckowski was murdered.

Last week at a press conference, we heard that a California pathologist had concluded Amanda Wienckowski's death was due to homicide. The report was sent to the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office, which had previously concluded her death was due to opiate intoxication and had classified it as accidental. That's quite a difference of opinion, but Erie County Health Commissioner Anthony Billittier has seen it before.

"I guess it's not all that unusual in the sense that people question the decisions that medical examiners make. In particular, it's usually over the manner of death, and that's usually whether it's a homicide or some other thing," explained Dr. Billittier.

That difference of opinion was based on differing interpretations of the appearance of the organs in her neck. The California pathologist, Dr. Sylvia Comparini, described bruises that she attributed to strangulation. She also complained that she hadn't received all the materials she needed.

Dr. Billittier said, "We then, at some point, were notified that Dr. Comparini apparently hadn't received everything. We then submitted the things again to her, but yet she continues to state that she hasn't received everything. To be honest with you, I don't know what she hasn't received, because to the best of our knowledge we've sent her everything that we have, everything that she requested."

Dr. Comparini has just submitted photographs that she says support her conclusions, and now they are being examined by the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office.

"We need to be open-minded about it and we review every piece of evidence that comes back, including opinions. Medical examiners do change opinions if new evidence comes to light," stated Dr. Billittier.

Second opinions are common in all areas of medicine, and if physicians don't see things the same way, they often compare notes and try to arrive at a consensus. Sometimes, even in a careful autopsy, there isn't absolute evidence to prove something, and you just have to acknowledge that.