Page 35 - CFDI Guide

Certified Forensic Death Investigator (CFDI) Program
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI, CFDI-Expert and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI, CFDI-SME
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC) Accredited

o Suicide is a ruling that is to the exclusion of all other MODs and is presumptive to the decedent
having not committed suicide. This manner is not used as a fallback when the other manners

are inconclusive. For example, if not Accident or Homicide, it must be Suicide. This is the most
common questioned death and such lack of conclusive evidence is best ruled Undetermined.

o There are four elements to Suicide:

1. Intent to commit the act knowing that it may result in their death;
2. Knowledge of the instrument used and that it may cause death;
3. History of attempts, ideation or documentation of evidence supporting Suicide;

4. Evidence of contributing factors to the act.
• Undetermined (facts and investigation are inconclusive).

o Manner assigned when there is insufficient evidence or information, especially about intent,

to assign another manner. May be seen in:
▪ “SIDS” – now referred to as Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome or “SUIDS”

▪ Advanced stages of decomposition
▪ Skeletal remains

▪ Unknown identification and/or history

As with all reports, which a death certificate is, there are some common nuances to be reminded of. These
are not only who, what, when, where, why and how – they are also: with, of, and, or and by. Like reading

statutes and regulations, and particularly elements of a criminal charge, these words can make a

difference in how something is read and interpreted.
• With – if a person dies ‘with’ something, they simply had it at the time of death.

The decedent died with cancer; or, When the decedent died, he had cancer.
• Of – if a person dies ‘of’ something, they died because of it.

The decedent died of cancer; or, When he died, it was because of the cancer.
• And – any parts joined by must be in the conclusion.

The decedent died with cancer and had a gunshot wound; or, When he died, it was because of the
gunshot wound and he had cancer.

• Or – any parts are not joined and do not have to be in the conclusion.
The decedent died of cancer or a gunshot wound, it is unknown; or, When he died, he had cancer and a

gunshot wound, but why he died is not known.
• By – this is a direct statement of an event to a cause.

23 | P a g e