A medical examiner has determined Nathan Humphries’ death was a homicide. The cause of death is listed as asphyxiation due to neck compression.
Humphries, 30, died on Jan. 1, 2023, following an altercation at a home on Stiwinter Mountain Road.
Macon County Sheriff Brent Holbrooks said on Tuesday morning that the sheriff’s office will be meeting with the district attorney’s office in the next week or so to review the autopsy as well as the entire case file and the findings of the investigation. No charges have been filed in the case.
The Franklin Press received on Aug. 18 a copy of the autopsy report as completed by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, the toxicology report and the medical examiner’s investigation report.
According to the autopsy report, in addition to the neck compression injuries, Humphries’ body had blunt trauma to the head and lower extremities.
According to the investigation report, Humphries was called to his grandfather’s home due to family members cutting down a tree. Humphries owned a tree business and was upset that the men cutting the tree did not have insurance and were not bonded in the event that an accident occurred.
Humphries arrived at the house with his wife and children in the truck with him. According to a statement given by his wife, Humphries confronted two to five men and a fist fight began in the driveway. “The fight lasted about 30 minutes, until he was unconscious on the ground,” the report states.
The men then loaded Humphries into the bed of a truck and drove him down the mountain to meet EMS. “He was then taken out of the truck bed and laid onto the roadway, where CPR was started,” the report states.
According to Macon County 911 reports, a call came in at 11:58 a.m. that Humphries was at the scene “causing trouble” and trying to start a fight. Humphries’ wife called 911 at noon reporting that Humphries was down on the road and not moving. She called back at 12:08. She said there was blood on Humphries. When the dispatcher asks if she can do CPR, she said she couldn’t get to her husband because there were several men there. She did not think Humphries was breathing. According to the 911 call log, Cullasaja Fire and Rescue reported at 12:14 p.m. there was no pulse, and they were starting Code 4 (CPR).
It was noted in the investigation report that Humphries had a past criminal history and substance abuse history. His wife stated he was not on drugs at the time. The toxicology report shows there was no trace of alcohol in Humphries’ blood samples.
The investigation report stated Humphries’ body had multiple abrasions to both hands and knuckles, both eyes were swollen shut and heavily bruised. There were marks to his forehead and across the lower back area, and the back of his head had heavy bruising. The autopsy reports stated there were no fractures. His clothing had mud and blood stains on them.
The Macon County Sheriff’s Office investigation report states the incident was an assault inflicting serious injuries as the result of a fist fight.