The 1954 autopsy protocol of Marilyn Sheppard was performed by Dr. Samuel Gerber. An autopsy protocol is a standardized checklist of steps in a basic forensic postmortem examination that is meant to be objective and determine the comprehensive condition the body, including cause of death. Dr. Gerber determined that The death of the decedent was the result of: multiple impacts to head and face with... fractures of skull and... contusions of brain