Horror to the north

◼ Certificate outlines cause of death in Klamath killing; Del Norte DA claims political attack behind motion to prevent him from prosecuting
The manner and cause of death in a March killing outside Klamath is particularly unusual and graphic, and statements to that end by Del Norte County's district attorney are being used by the suspect's defense in an attempt to bar him from trying the case.

Taylor Powell, 21, of Crescent City was killed in a Requa residence in the early morning hours of March 21. Del Norte County Sheriff's deputies, responding to a 911 call, arrested Jarrod G. Wyatt, 26, at the scene on suspicion of murder.

Wyatt now stands accused of murder, aggravated mayhem -- causing permanent disability or disfigurement -- and torture, with special allegations of using a “sharp-bladed instrument.” A mixed-martial arts fighter, Wyatt is said by his attorney to have been under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms at the time. He entered a plea of not guilty to all the charges in late March.

Powell's cause of death has not been officially released, but his death certificate shows that he bled to death after his heart was removed.

”Decedent had his heart removed from his chest while he was alive, causing exsanguination,” the certificate reads.
Exsanguination is more commonly known as bleeding out. The death came within seconds after the heart was removed, the certificate indicates.

Other significant factors are listed as blunt-force trauma to the head and neck, external compression of the neck, and “excision of the face,” which experts say can be read to mean removal of the face.

Del Norte County District Attorney Mike Riese told the Times-Standard in a previous interview that the killing was “very grotesque, very gruesome.” Defense attorney Michael Fallman is trying to have Riese removed from the case, in part due to that statement, which Fallman said shows Riese's intention to try the case in the media....