A forensic pathologist has challenged previous findings regarding the death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway in May 2023. Dr. Satish Chundru, testifying in defense of Marine Corps veteran Daniel Penny, stated that Neely’s death resulted from “combined effects” including a sickle cell crisis, schizophrenia, struggle and restraint, and synthetic marijuana in his system. This contradicts earlier conclusions by medical examiner Dr. Cynthia Harris, who attributed Neely’s death to neck compression from a chokehold.
Penny, charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in relation to Neely’s death, sat in court as Dr. Chundru detailed his review. Chundru, who has conducted over 9,000 autopsies, asserted that insufficient pressure was applied to Neely to cause unconsciousness. His defense suggests Neely’s existing health conditions and synthetic cannabinoids played significant roles in his death.
Earlier this month, at the start of the trial, The National Pulse reported that police body cam footage revealed that Neely was alive—having a pulse—after being released from Penny’s chokehold. The footage shows New York Police Department (NYPD) officers arriving at Fulton Station at 2:33 PM and confirming that Neely had a pulse. Although initially unconscious, Narcan was administered, and CPR was initiated at 2:38 PM. Paramedics arrived ten minutes later, but Neely was not pronounced dead until reaching Lenox Health Hospital.
The prosecution’s cross-examination of Dr. Chundru sought to question the reliability of his analysis, implying that his caseload might affect his thoroughness.
Penny says he placed Neely in a chokehold after the mentally ill man made death threats against numerous people and threw trash at them on a New York subway, acting erratic and violent. Numerous eye-witnesses confirm Penny’s account of Neely, who had a long arrest record and an active warrant for beating an elderly woman.
