DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) – An autopsy performed on the Fox Valley doctor found dead in Door County last week will take some time.
“We’re waiting on the medical examiner’s office to make the determination of cause and manner of death and I think they’re waiting on the toxology report which typically takes 2 to 4 weeks,” said Door County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Pat McCarty on Tuesday.
McCarty did confirm that the .22-caliber handgun found near the body of 63-year-old Jeffrey Whiteside had been fired, but wouldn’t say how many times it had been fired.
The jury is still out on whether a crime occurred near some trees near German Road and State Highway 57 in the Town of Liberty Grove. Although McCarty says it appears there wasn’t a crime committed.
“Not at this point,” said McCarty. “But it would be premature for us to make that final judgement until we have a cause and manner of death.”
Whiteside was last seen June 29 when he and his wife, Kathi Whiteside, got into an argument at the Ephraim Yacht Harbor Marina. Authorities say Kathi Whiteside drove back to their residence in Grand Chute at that time.
Jeffrey Whiteside was not reported missing until July 1.
While they await the medical examiner’s report, McCarty isn’t sure whether investigators want to still take a look at the couple’s Grand Chute home.
“I haven’t spoken with our investigators if that’s something they want to pursue or not,” McCarty said. “Right now we’re trying to follow up to determine ownership of the gun.”
McCarty had previously stated that all of the handguns owned by Whiteside were accounted for.
“That’s one of the things we need to figure out because we had conflicting reports about the firearms that he owned,” said McCarty.
There is also the possibility that witnesses could still come forward with reported sightings of Whiteside. The crime scene in the Town of Maple Grove is about 2 miles east of Ephraim.
“None that have been completely confirmed, we have some reports, but they’re unsure of the time they saw Dr. Whiteside so we haven’t validated any of those,” McCarty said.
Whiteside, who worked for Fox Valley Pulmonary Medicine, is survived by his wife, three children and several grandchildren. A celebration of life for Whiteside takes place Friday.
