The hole found in Janet Kovacich’s skull could have been caused by something besides a bullet, according to testimony from Donald Henrikson.

Henrikson, a forensic pathologist for the Placer County Sheriff Coroner’s Office, was on the stand Monday in the trial for Paul Kovacich.

Paul Kovacich, a former Placer County Sheriff’s Office sergeant, has pleaded not guilty to murder with the use of a firearm in the Sept. 8, 1982 death and disappearance of his wife, Janet Kovacich.

Henrikson said he examined a skull found at Rollins Lake in October 1995 – that was later identified as Janet Kovacich’s – shortly after it was found.

Henrikson said the skull was incomplete and without the remainder of the body, he could not determine the cause of death.

“The most important thing is that most of the body was missing,” Henrikson said. “Even if the defect was the cause of death, it doesn’t mean it alone was the cause.”

He said other factors could have contributed such as strangulation, stab wounds or gun shot wounds in other parts of the body.

He said a hole found on the right side could have been caused by a bullet, but said other items such as a pick ax or piece of rebar, could have caused the damage.

He said the shape of the hole was one of the reasons why he was hesitant to label it a bullet wound. Henrikson described the shape as “almost rectangular.”

Henrikson said he reviewed a report by Patrick Willey, a forensic anthropologist from California State University, Chico. Willey testified as an expert for the prosecution in December and stated then and in his report that he felt the hole in the skull was “probably” caused by a bullet.

“In all probability it seemed consistent with a gunshot wound,” Willey said in December.

Henrikson said he did not agree with Willey’s conclusion.

“I did not feel the evidence was compelling,” Henrikson said.

Following Henrikson’s testimony, a veterinarian pathologist took the stand.

In 2008, William Spangler was asked by the defense to examine the bones of a German shepherd named Fuzz. Fuzz was Janet and Paul Kovacich’s family pet in 1982 and died in a few weeks before Janet Kovacich’s disappearance.

Spangler said he could not determine the cause of death based on the bones.

The prosecution has suggested that the dog’s death was a result of physical abuse. Janet Kovacich reportedly told friends that Paul Kovacich had kicked the dog.

The defense counters that the dog was sick for a week prior to its death and was not abused.

The Journal's Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment.