Coroner recalls Umi Southworth case in light of Donald’s release from prison

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — Donald Southworth has been in jail since 2012, where he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, for allegedly killing his wife Umi just 2 years earlier.
Officials say  Southworth was released Monday, because he reached his minimum sentence expiration date.

Coroner Gary Ginn was at the scene 13 years ago, when Southworth’s wife Umi, was found naked with a belt around her neck.

Ginn is the Fayette County Coroner remembers when he was called to the scene, of Umi Southworth in 2010.

“Everyone there thought that Ms. Southworth was dead,” Ginn says he and his deputy took pictures.

“I said she’s alive,” he recalls.

Not realizing what would happen next, “took my pocket knife out and and cut the belt from around her neck and cradled her head and talked with her and told her that we were getting an ambulance that we were going to get her help that we were going to take care of her and get her to the hospital,” he says.

Ginn says maggots had already formed in Umi’s wounds.

He said they quickly collected them to try to determine how long she had been there.

After the investigation, Umi’s husband Donald Southworth was charged with her murder, and sentenced for manslaughter.
That’s when Southworth entered an Alford Plea, where a defendant doesn’t admit guilt, but acknowledges there’s enough evidence for a conviction.

“I did talk with several of the surgeons and ask if her if she had been found at the time, that or when she was found. Would she have had any? What percentage would it be that she would have lived? And they all pretty well told me that it was zero percentage with with the with the injuries and things that she had to her head,” added Ginn.

Gary says, he wasn’t shocked to hear Southworth left prison Monday, but he was surprised adding that the events leading up to Umi’s death, changed policies for emergency personnel.

“Whether it’s a natural death, or whether it’s an accident or homicide, because the statutes do say that, when death occurs that the coroner shall be called, is not will or can or should be or whatever the coroner shall be called,” also said Ginn.

Ginn says the case, is one he will never forget because he remembers trying to help Umi.

“Started talking with her with compassion to see if she could hear me that she knew that there was somebody that cared,” he adds.