HSCA Record Number 180-10105-10397 Agency File Number 014461 Originator-HSCA From: Jan G. Rudnicki To: Date: 5/8/78 Pages: 4 Subjects: Rudnicki, Jan G. JFK autopsy Contents: Outside Contact Report by HSCA investigator Mark Flanagan with Jan G. Rudnicki. Document follows in full. NAME Jan G. Rudnicki DATE 5/8/78 TIME ADDRESS 4418 Inyo Court PLACE via telephone Freemont, California 95438 (415) 797-8071 Interview: On May 8, 1978 I spoke to Mr. Rudnicki by telephone concerning his presence at the autopsy of President John F. Kennedy. Mr. Rudnicki currently lives in California and can be located at 4418 Inyo Court, Freemont, Cal., 94538, tel: (415) 797-8071. In November, 1963, Mr. Rudnicki said that he was a third class petty officer stationed at Bethesda Naval Medical Center. He served as a lab technologist in the Pathology Department. Rudnicki said he became involved in the autopsy when Dr. Boswell called him and requested his presence. Before the autopsy of the President, Mr. Rudnicki had witnesses approximately twenty autopsies. Rudnicki's general duties as a lab technologist required preparing tissues for microscopic analysis. Rudnicki said he was present in the autopsy room when various people brought in the President's body. Before this time Rudnicki was involved in preparing the morgue for the autopsy. Rudnicki said that approximately six persons were in the autopsy room when the President's body was brought in and that this figure soon grew to about twenty people. Those present included Dr. Humes, Dr. Boswell, Secret Service agents, and other unidentified persons. INTERVIEWER /s/ Mark Flanagan (SIGNATURE) Mark Flanagan (TYPED) DATE TRANSCRIBED 5/;2/78 [sic] Ross [end of page one] Rydnicki [sic] Interview Page 2 Rudnicki stated that few wounds were visible when he first saw the President. The "back-right quadrant of the head was missing." In addition, a wound to the throat which resembled a tracheostomy existed. Rudnicki could not initially see any other wounds. Regarding photographs, Rudnicki said that personnel began taking photos as soon as the body arrived and continued to do so throughout the autopsy. Rudnicki could not specifically recall the taking of any X-rays although he did remember someone entering the room with a portable X-ray machine. Rudnicki had no recollection of how the film was handled after exposure or if any receipts were written. During the autopsy Rudnicki stood at the autopsy table and insured that containers in which to place specimens were ready. These specimens were then retained for later examination. During Rudnicki's handling of the specimens a Secret Service or FBI agent accompanied him and took notes concerning the procedure. Rudnicki stated that the specimens included tissue from the head and throat area. He could not recall if the specimens included any segments of the internal organs. Rudnicki did not feel the pathologists performed a full autopsy. The procedure seemed to be limited to finding just missles [sic] or missle [sic] tracts. Rudnicki could not recall any orders to limit the autopsy, but felt the general atmosphere indicated that the pathologists were not performing a full or standard autopsy. For instance, Rudnicki stated that he could not recall [end of page two] Rudnicki Interview page 3 tissue specimens being taken from the internal organs. Rudnicki did not recall anything concerning the adrenal glands or the brain. During the autopsy Rudnicki saw the wounds in more detail. In addition to the large head wound and the tracheostomy Rudnicki noticed a wound in the shoulder blade region of the back. Rudnicki stated that the pathologists began probing the back wound but could not discern its tract. During this time Rudnicki said that doctors took measurements of the wounds. Rudnicki recalled discussion concerning a bullet that was found in Dallas, the general direction that the bullets entered, the nature of the tracheostomy, and the possibility that two bullets struck the head in the same general area causing a massive defect. Rudnicki could not recall anything more specific concerning these discussions or any conclusions. During the autopsy Rudnicki said that many phone calls occurred, possibly by the Secret Service and FBI agents. He did not know if any Kennedy family members maintained phone contact with the autopsy room. Further, Rudnicki said that Dr. Humes appeared to be in command and that he couldn't recall any orders or instructions coming from other sources, particularly Dr. Burkley. Rudnicki did not leave the autopsy room until after the morticians arrived. Rudnicki could not recall what missle [sic] fragments, if any, [end of page three] Rudnicki page 4 the pathologists may have removed from the body. After the autopsy Rudnicki stated that he didn't have any further involvement with any of its aspects. Rudnicki said that the normal autopsy procedure was to prepare slides which would then be saved for ten years. The hospital would keep the remaining organ material from which the slides were taken for a two-year period before incinerating them. Rudnicki stated that in President Kennedy's autopsy, he believes that the tissue specimens were placed in the safe of the Commander of the hospital, Captain Stover. Rudnicki had no further information to provide. [end of page four and end of document]