ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The body of a man who was shot by a sheriff’s deputy arrived at the state medical examiner’s office with his hands cuffed behind his back, according to an autopsy report.
Earl Flippen died Dec. 18 after a confrontation with two Otero County deputies at his home. One deputy was killed, and the other has been indicted on a voluntary manslaughter charge in Flippen’s death.
The autopsy report, dated Tuesday, said Flippen’s wrists had pale indentations from the handcuffs but did not speculate when the handcuffs were put on. The report also said the body arrived with seven unfired bullets in a pocket.
State police have said Flippen died in an exchange of gunfire with Deputy Bill Anders after Flippen fatally shot the other deputy, Robert Hedman.
The deputies were responding to reports of gunshots at Flippen’s home near Cloudcroft, about 160 miles southeast of Albuquerque. They questioned Flippen and noticed blood on the floor, but he refused to let them in.
Anders went to a patrol car to call for help while Hedman went to the rear of the house, where he was fatally shot. Anders then confronted Flippen near the front of the house and shot him, state police said.
Officers later found the body of Flippen’s pregnant girlfriend, Deborah Rhoudes, in a closet. Authorities believe she was killed before deputies arrived.
Anders was indicted last month, accused of killing Flippen in “a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion.”
Anders’ attorney, Robert Doughty II, has said his client shot Flippen in self-defense. Anders, a 33-year law enforcement veteran, has been on leave since the shooting.