Page 7 - Novem December 2016

A Hanging at the Beach House: Female Suicide or Murder?

provided a detailed account of their investigation, evidence, and conclusions about
her death: the black paint from her door note was found on her hand and body;

there was a small knife and a large knife in the bedroom - her fingerprints were
found on the small one and her DNA was found on the large one; her DNA was

D found on the bed, the rope, the balcony door, and the bedroom door; her bare feet
E and toe impressions were found on the dusty balcony floor; changes in the dust on
C the balcony railing were consistent with her body going over it, as were the scrapes

E on her back and legs from hitting the large plants below. No other footprints,
P fingerprints, or DNA that was not hers was found at the scene. There were no signs

T of a fight, struggle, or sexual assault in the bedroom.
I
O Rebecca’s family has disputed the results of the investigation and has hired an

N attorney. Well-known forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden (no stranger to high-
profile media cases involving unique deaths), looked at the case details from his

office in New York, and told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he believed the
Sheriff’s investigation was valid and accurate.

Rebecca’s family is outraged that the Sheriff’s investigation could conclude that

she killed herself. They disagree that it was from grief, shame, or depression. She
had told friends and family that she had felt depressed over the past year, but her

parents didn’t believe that was true. They said she had a lot to live for her and her
personality was always cheerful.

And what about being naked? Her parents insist that their Burmese-Asian culture is
far too modest for a woman to leave herself uncovered in death. And what about the

fact that her hands and feet were bound? How could she have tied her own hands
behind her back? The Sheriff’s Department actually produced a video re-enactment

of how they believe Rebecca tied her own hands, which they showed at the press
conference that covered details of their investigation. Based on how the ropes were
twisted into large loops around her wrists, it would not have taken an acrobat or the

ghost of Harry Houdini to tie her own hands. (You can view the video link at http://
www.uniontrib.com/mansion)

Dr. Michael Baden told the local paper that of the 32,000 people who killed
themselves last year, hanging was second only to gun shots as the method for their

suicides. Many clinicians involved in suicide research or who perform

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