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Dan Markel— Case Archive
personpersonAnthony ClarkAnthony ClarkForensic pathologist who performed the July 19, 2014 autopsy of Dan Markel and testified as a State witness in four Markel-case trials.← All People
Expert witnessDistrict 2 Medical Examiner's Office

Anthony Clark

Courtroom still of Anthony Clark.

Forensic pathologist who performed the July 19, 2014 autopsy of Dan Markel and testified as a State witness in four Markel-case trials.

AppearedGarcia–MagbanuaMagbanua RetrialCharlie AdelsonDonna Adelson
286 lines·10 proceedings·2 mentions·4 trials

About

Medical examiner and forensic pathologist Anthony Clark testified about his autopsy of Daniel Markel. He described two facial gunshot wounds, recovered projectiles, and photographs and X-rays documenting the examination. Clark identified the cheek wound as the first shot and the later wound near the forehead or between the eyes as fatal, concluding that gunshot wounds of the face and head caused Markel's death and that the manner of death was homicide. He explained how glass from the closed car window produced abrasions or pseudo-stippling, while gunpowder stippling and soot indicated a close-range later shot and helped interpret the position of Markel's forearm. He also qualified his conclusions, explaining that a precise distance estimate required the same weapon and ammunition and that head position, eyeglasses, bone strikes, and assumptions about anatomical position could affect trajectory analysis.

Trial Record (10)

GMGarcia–MagbanuaSep 26, 2019 – Oct 11, 2019Called by prosecution

On Day 1, medical examiner Anthony Clark presented autopsy findings concerning two facial gunshot wounds, including his opinion that the wound between the eyes caused death. Cross-examination challenged his trajectory methodology and addressed discussions preceding the report's finalization.

Day 1

DirectAnthony Clark - DirectAnthony ClarkGeorgia Cappleman2highlights63lines spoken

Summary

Dr. Anthony Clark described the autopsy findings, two gunshot wounds, range and glass-related injury indicators, and his homicide determination.

Highlights (2)

Quote“So, to me, this is a pseudo stippling or glass abrasions from when the first bullet went through the glass and caused these injuries here.”— Anthony ClarkClark connected the irregular abrasions to a shot through glass rather than ordinary gunpowder stippling.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossAnthony Clark - CrossAnthony ClarkMauricio Padilla2highlights40lines spoken

Summary

Clark explained his trajectory analysis, described recent discussions with Shawn Yao, and gave the date he finalized the autopsy report.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightClark explained how trajectory rods can be used to trace a wound path and said they were not useful here because the bullets were recovered and he could determine direction from the wounds.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“Two gunshot wounds like this and the bullets are recovered in the body, they're not really useful, because I can tell the direction by looking at them.”— Anthony ClarkClark explained why he did not consider trajectory rods useful for these wounds.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
KMMagbanua RetrialMay 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022Called by prosecution

Testifying for the State on Day 1, forensic pathologist Anthony Clark described Daniel Markel's autopsy findings, the recovered bullets, and the recorded cause and manner of death. Cross-examination addressed the assumptions and limits of his opinions about wound position and trajectory.

Day 1

DirectAnthony Clark - DirectAnthony ClarkGeorgia Cappleman4highlights56lines spoken

Summary

Dr. Anthony Clark described Markel's autopsy, wound analysis, and recovered bullets, and testified that gunshot wounds to the face and head caused his death.

Highlights (4)

testimony highlightDr. Clark distinguished the cheek wound's glass-related abrasions from the forehead wound's fine gunpowder stippling and described his opinion about the likely sequence of the wounds.Open in transcript →
Quote“So I felt that gunshot wound number one was most likely the first gunshot wound.”— Anthony ClarkClark gave his qualified sequence opinion based on the wound characteristics and scene information.Open in transcript →
testimony highlightDr. Clark testified that Daniel Markel's cause of death was gunshot wounds of the face and head and classified the manner of death as homicide.Open in transcript →
Quote“Cause of death, as written on the autopsy report and death certificate, are gunshot wounds of the face and head.”— Anthony ClarkClark stated the autopsy's recorded cause of death.Open in transcript →
CrossAnthony Clark - CrossAnthony ClarkChristopher DeCoste4highlights20lines spoken

Summary

Clark said stippling supported an elevated arm but could not establish why it was raised, and he qualified the assumptions behind his trajectory opinions.

Highlights (4)

testimony highlightClark explained that glass stippling on the forearm was more likely associated with the first shot and that soot was most likely associated with a second shot; he could not determine why Markel's arm was raised.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“Now, I don't know -- his arm was raised to get the glass stippling.”— Anthony ClarkClark confirmed an elevated arm but did not identify what caused that position.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
testimony highlightClark clarified that his trajectory descriptions use the decedent in an anatomic position and said head position, eyeglasses, and bone strikes could affect the path considered.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“But, remember, all my trajectories are based on the decedent placed in what we call the anatomic position.”— Anthony ClarkClark qualified the basis for his trajectory opinions.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CACharlie AdelsonOct 26, 2023 – Nov 6, 2023Called by prosecution

Testifying on Day 1, forensic pathologist Dr. Anthony Clark explained Dan Markel's autopsy, the gunshot injuries, and his findings on the cause and manner of death.

Day 1

DirectAnthony Clark - DirectAnthony ClarkGeorgia Cappleman5highlights52lines spoken

Summary

Dr. Anthony Clark gave autopsy testimony on the two gunshot wounds, their likely sequence and range, and the cause and manner of Dan Markel's death.

Highlights (5)

testimony highlightDr. Clark testified that the cheek wound was most likely first because glass caused injuries around it, while the eyebrow wound showed gunpowder stippling.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
testimony highlightDr. Clark testified that the eyebrow wound was fired from within inches and rendered Markel unconscious almost immediately, though his heart and lungs continued working afterward.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“On the top one here to the -- just inside the left eyebrow, again, you're talking within inches.”— Anthony ClarkDr. Clark gave his range opinion for one of the gunshot wounds.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Show all 5 highlights
DADonna AdelsonAug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025Called by prosecution

Testifying on Day 1, forensic pathologist Anthony Clark described Dan Markel's autopsy, the two gunshot wounds, and his conclusions about the cause and manner of death. The defense waived cross-examination.

Day 1

DirectAnthony Clark - DirectAnthony ClarkGeorgia Cappleman6highlights52lines spoken

Summary

Medical examiner Anthony Clark described two fatal gunshot wounds, close-range stippling evidence, a possible defensive arm position, and his homicide determination.

Highlights (6)

testimony highlightDr. Clark described two gunshot wounds, distinguishing pseudo-stippling associated with the shot through the car window from gunpowder stippling he believed indicated the firearm was inches from Markel's head; he also described the raised forearm evidence as consistent with a defensive or reaction-type position.Open in transcript →
Quote“this isn't true stippling, which is due to gun powder.”— Anthony ClarkClark distinguished the facial marks associated with the first shot from gunpowder stippling.Open in transcript →
Quote“Yes, I'm thinking inches. Yes, ma'am.”— Anthony ClarkClark estimated that the muzzle was inches from Markel's head based on the stippling evidence.Open in transcript →
Show all 6 highlights
testimony highlightDr. Clark gave the cause of death as gunshot wounds of the face and head and the manner of death as homicide.Open in transcript →
Quote“Gunshot wounds of the face and head.”— Anthony ClarkClark stated his autopsy conclusion on the cause of death.Open in transcript →