Dau Mabil’s family agrees on pathologist to perform independent autopsy

After weeks of back and forth, the widow and brother of Dau Mabil have agreed on a pathologist who can perform an independent autopsy. 

Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas wrote in a Wednesday order that Dr. Daniel Schultz, president of Florida-based Final Diagnosis, may perform the autopsy. 

Thomas denied a motion that asked for the autopsy to be performed by Bul Mabil’s choice pathologist, Dr. Matthias Okoye of the Nebraska Institute of Forensic Sciences. 

“Although the independent autopsy is to be conducted at the direction and expense of Bul Garang Mabil, this court did not exclude Karissa Bowley from the process,” the judge wrote. “As the surviving spouse of Dau Mabil, Karissa Bowley has a legal right to be included in all matters concerning this process.” 

Dau Mabil – a Belhaven Heights resident in his 30s who had been one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan” and came to Jackson in 2000 –  disappeared in March after leaving his house to go on a walk. Early on, Bul Mabil questioned what happened to his brother and whether someone was responsible. 

Weeks later, Dau’s body was found over 50 miles away in Pearl River in Lawrence County. The State Medical Examiner report released in June found Dau died from drowning, but the manner of death was undetermined. 

Bul Mabil has continued to ask whether there was any foul play, and he and his attorneys have previously said that an independent autopsy can help answer that question. 

Thomas previously ordered that an independent autopsy would need to happen within 30 days of the conclusion of any law enforcement investigation. Capitol Police completed its investigation around the end of June.

Karissa Bowley, Dau’s widow, disagreed with Bul’s choice of Okoye, pointing out how the pathologist faced a lawsuit that questioned his findings in an autopsy report. She proposed several other pathologists who could perform Dau’s autopsy. 

Bul Mabil rejected Bowley’s alternatives and provided two more before they agreed on Schultz, according to court records. Shortly after, Bul’s attorney said he chose Okoye and only agreed to Schultz if Okoye was not available. 

In Wednesday’s ruling, Thomas said Schultz met all requirements previously set by the court, but he did not make a determination about Okoye or other “allegations of incompetency and partiality” raised about the pathologist.