Thursday, 4:30 PM
Doctor: No evidence of rape in autopsy of slain fashion writer
By Megan Tench, Globe Staff, and Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent
A state medical examiner testified today that there was no physical evidence discovered during the autopsy of Christa Worthington that would indicate that the Cape Cod fashion writer had been raped.
The testimony of Dr. Henry Nields, who took that stand for the prosecution this morning, seemed to contradict some of the allegations against Christopher M. McCowen, 34.
McCowen, who was Worthington’s trash collector, is charged with aggravated rape in addition to murder and armed burglary in the January 2002 slaying. He could face life in prison if convicted.
Worthington was found in her Truro home two days after police and prosecutors says she was beaten, raped and stabbed to death. Her toddler, Ava, was in the home and found unhurt, but smeared with her mother's blood.
Nields testified today that while there was no bruising or tearing consistent with rape, doctors did find an unexplained drop of blood. It was unclear if the blood belonged to Worthington or her attacker, Nields said, and the sample has since been lost.
The jury today also viewed gruesome photographs from the autopsy and poster-board-size diagrams detailing Worthington's injuries. She had bruises and contusions on her back, knees, hands and thighs. Worthington's killer stabbed her on the left side of her chest so hard that the knife went completely through her body and made and exit wound on her back, Nields said.
