Norwich - Autopsies conducted throughout the day Saturday on the skeletal remains of famous Norwich folk artist Ellis Ruley and his son-in-law Douglas Harris found no signs of a traumatic attack at the time of Ruley's death, but skull fractures and other injuries on Harris' skull at the time of his death are "cause for concern about foul play," the forensic expert who conducted the autopsies said Saturday night.

But in both cases, more detailed study needs to be done, including examination of microscopic slides of skeletal fragments, review of dozens of X-rays taken Saturday and tests on hair on Harris' skull, said Dr. Michael Baden, retired chief medical examiner for New York City and retired chief forensic pathologist for New York State, who conducted the autopsies Saturday at The William W. Backus Hospital. Dr. Mirela Stancu, chief of pathology at Backus, assisted in the autopsies.

Baden said the circumstances of the two men's deaths need to be taken into account along with the physical evidence found immediately following their deaths and now, decades later.

Harris died in 1948 and Ruley in 1959, both under mysterious circumstances that at the time were ruled accidental deaths. Family members for decades have called for more in-depth investigations and to reopen possible criminal cases. Their efforts are coming to fruition now under the coordination of California author and Emmy Award-winning documentarian Glenn Palmedo-Smith, who is working on a documentary of Ruley's life and death that he will donate to the Public Broadcasting Service.

Baden said it could take several weeks for the final autopsy report to be completed. The report will be given to Ruley's direct descendants, who were on hand Friday when the two bodies were exhumed from their graves at Maplewood Cemetery in Norwich.

Dianne Laiscell, Ruley's great-granddaughter, declined to comment on Baden's initial findings Saturday evening, saying she will wait for the full report and a chance to discuss it with Baden.

Norwich police opened a cold case review of the two deaths 18 months ago at the request of the family. Sgt. Corey Poore, who is leading the investigation, attended Saturday's autopsy, as did state police Detective David A. Lamoureux with the Eastern District Major Crime Squad. Lamoureux said he was there to assist Norwich police with their investigation.

"We're awaiting the doctor's report on the autopsy before determining whether there is grounds to open a criminal investigation," Norwich police Capt. Patrick Daley said Saturday.

Harris, Ruley's son-in-law, was found dead Nov. 20, 1948, head-first in a narrow, shallow well on the family's secluded wooded property on Hammond Avenue off East Main Street. His body was upside down and submerged to his thighs. Without an autopsy, authorities at the time quickly ruled his death an accidental drowning.

Baden said Harris' skull had a half-inch diameter puncture to the forehead at the time of his death that did not penetrate through the entire skull.

"It's not a bullet or a knife stab, but some blunt penetration," Baden said.

Other undetermined skull injuries also were discovered in Saturday's autopsy that will need further study. Brain tissue was too decomposed to reveal whether Harris suffered a brain injury, Baden said. There also was a possible neck injury, he said.

Eleven years after Harris' death, Ruley left his house Jan. 16, 1959, to visit a local bar. Accounts over the years said he called a taxi to bring him home. The taxi driver had said he drove up the long, narrow driveway and left when Ruley was at his door. But Ruley's body was found all the way back down the driveway in the road, with a 100-foot trail of blood. Authorities said he had become disoriented, fallen down the slope and ended up freezing to death in the road. His death, too, was ruled accidental.

Baden said he found old, healed fractures on Ruley's body consistent with a major car accident he experienced in 1930. He said those injuries were "poorly healed" from not being properly set or treated at the time but did not occur at the time of his death. No fresh fractures at the time of his death were found, Baden said.

Baden said other circumstances in Ruley's death also have to be considered.

Ruley's body had undergone an autopsy following his death, and that report included information that Ruley's blood alcohol level was 0.14 percent. At the time, the level to determine drunken driving was 0.15 percent. Baden said that level is not "falling down drunk" and should not have been enough to impede his walking.

But Baden also questioned the accuracy of the taxi driver's statements, given information that Ruley's driveway was steeply sloped, dark and winding - difficult in the best weather and light - and that the driver may not have actually taken Ruley to his front door.

Another bit of information at the time was that Ruley's wallet, which supposedly contained about $55 from his recently cashed Social Security check, was found empty about 20 feet from the body. Was Ruley the victim of a robbery by an assailant who didn't intend to kill him?

The 1959 autopsy revealed a laceration on his forehead and extensive bleeding. Baden said autopsies cannot tell if a man fell and hit his head or was pushed to the ground. Witnesses are needed for that, and there were supposedly no witnesses to Ruley's death.

"The issue of why he fell is still up in question," Baden said.

The autopsies of the two bodies took all day Saturday - from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Baden and Smith praised Backus staff for their support of the entire effort to investigate Ruley's and Harris' deaths.

"The William W. Backus Hospital staff and physicians and security were absolutely fabulous," Smith said. "They just could not have been more supportive."

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday