No Cause of Death in Campbell Murder Trial

An extensive autopsy found no sign of internal or external injuries on Liya "Jessie" Lu's body, Deputy Medical Examiner Pedro Ortiz testified Wednesday in the murder trial of Isaac Campbell, accused of killing her and placing her body in a trash can. The cause of Lu's death could not be determined.

Lu's "mummified" body was discovered in a large, royal blue trash can in a month after her Aug. 12, 2007, death. Campbell, Lu's ex-boyfriend, is charged with her murder and faces life in prison if convicted. The two met as nursing students at Pasadena City College.

Ortiz suggested Campbell may have killed Lu by applying a martial arts hold designed to compress the carotid arteries in the neck, inducing fatal cardiac arrhythmia within 10 to 30 seconds. However, Ortiz said he did not see any evidence of damage to Lu's heart, ligature marks or bruises on her neck during the autopsy.

"There was nothing that would indicate anything," Ortiz said. "I examined the cadaver from head to toe, from front to back."

In extremely rare istances, carotid artery stimulation leaves no visible injuries, but Ortiz said he "had never seen such a case" in his 25 year career as a medical examiner.

Doctors had begun the process of diagnosing Lu with a serious seizure disorder around the time she died. Defense lawyer Jim Duffy asked Ortiz whether the disorder may have ultimately killed Lu. Ortiz said he had no idea, because Lu's brain had completely deteriorated and could not be examined.

"The brain was partially liquified and all the anatomical landmarks had disappeared," the medical examiner said, describing the organ as having become a "mass of green-white jell."

The court also heard testimony from Lu's ex-husband and cousin, Jermy Zhou. The couple married in 1998 and divorced in 2003. Zhou, who spoke through an interpreter, said he saw Lu the day before her death. 

The two had gone to Kmart to buy items for Lu's new apartment; she had moved out of the Alhambra residence she shared with Campbell earlier in the week.

Ruth Evans, Lu's supervisor at Kaiser Permanante in Hollywood, testified that Lu's failure to show up at work Aug. 13, 2007, "was out of her character." Unable to reach Lu by phone, Evans eventually called the emergency contact listed on Lu's employment forms.

"She was very conscientious," Evans said of Lu. "She always completed her assignments and was always very cordial and personable with everyone she worked with."

Evans said she was unaware Lu was being treated for neurological problems.

Testimony continues today. Check Patch later for more.