An autopsy was commissioned by Izmerly's family and carried out by Dr Faik Amin Baker, director of Baghdad hospital's forensic department, who said that Izmerly's death was caused by a sudden hit to the back of his head and that the cause of death was blunt trauma. It was uncertain exactly how he died, but someone had hit him from behind, possibly with a bar or a pistol. It was also found that US doctors had made a 20 cm incision in his skull, apparently in an attempt to save his life after the initial blow.