Lewis Powell's Family

[BettyO]

That's what I believe, Maddie. Yes, upon death and disintegration, the jaw (i.e. lower mandible) comes apart from the top half of the skull; also the head comes off from the spinal column because the cord has disintegrated which holds in on! I learned that awhile back because I thought skeletons were all connected - not so! The bones are strewn all over once the flesh rots - no muscle, tissue, etc. to hold it together! So yes, his lower jaw would be separate.

I'm also beginning to think that poor Lew's noggin' was at one time dropped and the face cracked (NOT while he was <ahem> still in it! HA!) This could also account for the fact that his upper teeth are missing - yes the bones are more brittle at that time as well from what I surmise.

I don't think that the fall from the horse on the 14th of April would cause that - too severe an injury and there would be a lot of apparent bruising and swelling of his face in the photos -

I'm NO doctor and no scientist, just my observations......