Page 150 - CFDI Guide

Review of the reports and photographs revealed that the body had not been moved prior to being found

and had been deceased for several hours, including prior to his wife leaving for work. The previous night
the decedent had been up drinking and would often sleep downstairs in a separate bed when similarly

intoxicated. His wife had no reason to think differently this night. There were no wounds, offensive or
defensive, on the decedent or wife. There was a small contusion on the decedent’s back, near his right

shoulder. One area disturbance in the house was on the wall to the stairs leading down to the basement
bedroom. This was a circular defect in the wall from an object impacting. It was opined after review that

this may have been the decedent’s shoulder. Another area was a table on the stair landing, between the
upper and lower floors. Items on top were disturbed. The pattern injury to the decedent’s back was

consistent with the edge of the table. Toxicology was positive for alcohol, .202; no other substances. This
level of intoxication is contributory to a high-level of disorientation.

Independent investigation concurred with the official investigation.

Suspicious Death - Independent Investigation (Expert Consultation)

Our agency was retained by a private investigator on behalf of the decedent’s family. The decedent was
found by family members in his bed with a gunshot wound to the side of his head. A semi-automatic

handgun was by his side. A roommate left that morning without seeing the decedent. There were no
unusual circumstances reported of the prior evening. The official ruling was Suicide due to a single

gunshot wound to the head.

Information for investigative review purposes was limited to scene photographs and statements from non-
present family members and the roommate. This is usually insufficient to conduct an adequate Equivocal

Death Investigation. As a subject matter expert on blood spatter and crime scenes, this agency was

contacted to review the photographs and determine if a more comprehensive investigation should be
conducted by the retained private investigator.

A review of the photographs revealed several important factors. The right hand of the decedent has blood

spatter which is consistent with high velocity, such as would be expected in a self-inflicted gunshot
wound. The quantity of blood is consistent, and not inordinate.

In addition, the magazine was found between the boxspring and mattress – not in the handgun. One

bullet had been discharged and it was questioned if there was any plausible reason for the magazine to
have been separated from the handgun. It was determined that this was as found by responding law

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