Q:   Dear Sirs, I want to know if you have ever written a book about the evidence that they have found out. If so, what is the name of the book and where may I buy it?
Sincerely yours,
Katie
A:   Katie, Thank you. We are in the process or writing about the assassination of King Tut in a format that will examine the case much closer, including our assessment of the filters of profiling that we applied in this investigation. We hope to have the book out within 9 months or so.

Thank you for the inquiry. You can keep in touch with us at www.IOIS.net.

Mike King

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Q:   Hello, This is a fascinating subject for me! It combines two of my favorite interests: ancient Egypt and mysteries of all kinds!

Since the mummification process was improperly handled does this alter the quality of the DNA? Also are his congenital health problems considered as a possible cause of death?

Melanie
A:   Melanie, This is a great question. It appears from other examples that DNA can still be successfully removed from mummified bodies, so I feel comfortable in reporting that Tut's DNA could be removed if the Egyptian government would allow it to be done. I suspect that will probably not happen though since the last two times Tut's body was manipulated, it experienced some irreversible damage.

Regarding your second question — yes, congenital health problems were considered. In a death investigation the examiner must consider whether the person died from natural causes (such as congenital problems), accident, suicide or homicide. As we combined the totality of all the physical, circumstantial and behavioral evidence together, it did not appear as "probable" that natural causes was the reason for the young King's death.

Thank you for taking the time to ask your question. Your ability to evaluate the evidence is admirable.

Mike King

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Q:   Dear Experts, I am fascinated by all endeavors to solve King Tut's mysterious death. I have read that a dark colored lesion was found on the left cheek of King Tut and his scull was damaged as if he had been hit in the head with a blunt object. What objects do you think could have caused the marks on his scull and cheek? Do you have any guesses as to what the murder weapon was?

Could the damage to his scull and cheek have occurred during mummification? Has the old theory that King Tut died of tuberculosis been completely ruled out? If you could answer my questions that would be great. Thank you for your time!

Kelly
Medway, Maine
A:   Kelly, Thanks for sending your question and remarks. This has truly been a fascinating investigation and experience for both Greg and me. We cannot completely rule out tuberculosis, but is seems less likely, based on the totality of all the evidence.

In the investigation, we discovered some very interesting things about the long-held belief that an injury was sustained at the base of the skull. Our forensic radiologists and medical examiners have suggested different explanations for that theory.

Dr. Rodin suggests that the mark on the cheek that you referenced could have come from an arrow as some experts have theorized. He offered another theory, however, — the mark could have came from a mosquito bite, which, like today's West Nile Virus, became infected and the young King died as a result of the infectious poison in his body.

Our examination of all of those theories was somewhat critical because the manner in which Tut was mummified and buried are not consistent with those ideas.

I hope you enjoy the show and that your questions are answered completely.

Best wishes in your continued learning of Egypt and its history!
Mike King

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