Officials decline to release autopsy related to Cannon death

The autopsy report for a female military dependent who died at Cannon Air Force Base last year has been completed, officials with the Office of the Medical Investigator said Tuesday.

However, eight months after 20-year-old Kimberly Novak died, the investigation is still ongoing, military officials said. And Tuesday, both medical investigators and Air Force officials declined to release the autopsy’s findings.

Medical investigators said they cannot disclose the findings because the report was funded by the Air Force as a private investigation.

Capt. Andre Kok of Cannon Public Affairs confirmed Tuesday that the Air Force had received the autopsy report; however he said only the Office of the Medical Investigator can release the report.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Kok said, “and it is an OMI report and they are the release authority for it.”

Military officials have said a lengthy investigation into a death does not necessarily indicate foul play is involved. Further, information pertaining to an investigation cannot be released for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the investigation, they have said.