How were tissue samples from the last " bucardo " preserved
In 1984 , when HIV was first discovered ( originally called HTLV-3 ) , and was spreading rapidly in the homosexual male communities of New York City and Los Angeles , Dr. Marlys Witte , one of the doctors who , like Elvin - Lewis , had cared for Rayford before death and also assisted in the autopsy , thawed and tested preserved tissue samples from Rayford 's autopsy , which tested negative .