Importance of Photography in Equivocal Death Investigations
Our role as medicolegal death investigators includes reviewing cases for other professional investigators, attorneys and families. They may question the evidence or investigative protocol - they ultimately question the Manner of Death - Natural, Accident, Suicide, Homicide and Undetermined - most often suicide. They may question the Cause of Death - the specific actions, but not often.
Families most often raise concerns because they do not understand the investigative process and may be influenced by lay persons (amateur sleuths) or the media and fictional television shows. Most often, if someone would sit down and answer a few questions, the families may find themselves on the road to closure. However, no one likes their processes and conclusions questioned. Too often we hear from families because their requests are refused. This is highly inappropriate. As deputy coroners we would take any time a family needed to help them understand the process and how we reached the conclusions. Other times it is simply a matter of not accepting the official findings and even multiple independent findings. We most often decline these if we sense this - we are not retained to give answers wanted.
For the professional investigator, this is why we developed the distance learning course - Death Investigations for Private Investigators at www.MedicolegalDeathInvestigations.com. For the lay person, particularly loved ones, this is why we wrote the book - A Survivors' Guide to Death Investigations at www.UnderstandingDeathInvestigations.com. It is why we love what we do, as Voltaire said, "To the living we owe respect. To the living we owe the truth." What do we do? We are Expert Medicolegal Investigator available to review the records, reports, photographs and evidentiary documentation in order to provide a non-medical expert opinion, within the scope of our education, training and experience, as to the totality of the circumstances of the fatal or non-fatal event and the competency of the official investigation, with respect to death investigation protocol and standards. One of the key items of review are photographs. However, because we often receive pushback from official agencies, or there are statutory restrictions to the release of information (i.e. the Dale Earnhardt Law in Florida that prohibits release of photographs, except to next-of-kin or by court order) we may not have photographs to review. How important are photographs? Specific to our consultations, two cases give excellent examples of the importance.
Suicide or Homicide by Ligature Strangulation
A grandson hired some renowned private investigators to find the killer of his grandfather - he absconded from parole in the 60s. The homicide was in the early 1950's, before grandson was born. After finding the killer about five years ago, they began to learn of other suspicious deaths around him. One was his son-in-law, found sitting next to his refrigerator with a belt around his neck and through the handle. It was ruled a suicide. Of course the myth is that people don't kill themselves this way - but it is frequent (Robin Williams was similar, but using a door).
Unfortunately a fire burned some medical examiner records, including this case - but the family did have the autopsy report. The police provided their reports, very poorly done, to the family. No photographs of the autopsy because of the fire; and none from the police - these were lost. We called and spoke to the evidence property Sergeant - who happened to have been at the scene. He informed us the original lead detective. deceased and often did not develop his rolls of film unless asked to - a very bad evidence and protocol violation. He had nothing, but had just inherited a big mess - it was actually national news how bad the evidence room was. Months later we received a package with a CD of photographs! In cleaning the mess they found a box of undeveloped rolls of film from the deceased detective. Not many, not even a dozen, photographs of our case. But - there was one, just one, that showed some bending of the belt consistent with how his wife (daughter of suspect) reported finding him; and showed an intact belt contrary to family 'facts' that the belt had been cut by the daughter (decedent's wife).
Before this we were certain it was consistent with suicide - but shows like CSI create all kinds of myths for families and investigators; everyone is an amateur CSI...most are wrong. That tidbit finally convinced the grandson and other investigators. The grandson had flown here to visit family and specifically with the medical examiner investigator, since resigned for other opportunities. The evidence Sergeant appreciated an independent review, even if it were to have found something, and kept his word to share anything he found. We kept our word to keep what he requested to be as confidential. We still have a good relationship.
The family and all involved are now happy. Most important, an man guilty of one homicide decades ago was no longer a suspect in a witch hunt for what was not a homicide and all other 'suspicious' deaths around him.
So, everything is important and we are not out to debunk a valid official investigation and findings. It does happen, but most often we find ourselves supporting the findings and helping families find closure. You can learn more about our processes and reviewed cases at www.deathcasereview.com/sample-cases.html.
Suicide or Homicide by Shotgun
In another case, a family retained us to review their son's suicide by shotgun. It took them two years to get the records and photographs, not many. Unknown to us, they made an appointment with an attorney to discuss a wrongful death case (the death was in a southern state and the family was in a northern midwest state).
After we concluded it was a suicide - they were a bit upset having made the appointment and flights. In this case, most of the photographs were very helpful. They dispelled some myths and answered for the family some serious questions they had. Questions that no person in the official investigation would take the time to discuss and answer.
The decedent had taken two shotguns with him - an over / under (two barrels, one on top of the other, versus side-by-side) and a semi-automatic shotgun (would discharge, eject and reload with each pull of the trigger, versus a pump action requiring the forestock pump to eject and reload with each pull of the trigger). However, the family was not sure how it could be determined which was used and how he could have been holding one.
The autopsy photos showed a burn on his hand that answered how he was holding the shotgun, and also indicated which shotgun. This burn was angled in such a manner to assist in determining how the shotgun was likely held, and it was consistent with a burn from one cylindrical object. One of the scene photographs had the shotgun and confirmed the rest. From the reports it was learned that one shotgun shell was found approximate to the decedent; the over/under shotgun was unloaded and the break-open breech was closed).
The family had many questions for us and we answered all that were answerable (some questions simply have no answer - we blame myths for this). The family was able to have more answers and some sense of closure. Without the photographs we would have never been able to definitively answer the questions or reach a conclusion.
So, everything is important and we are not out to debunk a valid official investigation and findings. It does happen, but most often we find ourselves supporting the findings and helping families find closure. You can learn more about our processes and reviewed cases at www.deathcasereview.com/sample-cases.html.
-----
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI
Cheyenne WY Licensed Private Investigators (No. OL-15-31146)
Board Certified Legal Investigator / Expert Consultant (national)
Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigators
Certified in Medicolegal Death Investigations / former Deputy Coroners
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
A Rocky Mountain West Agency
Expert Consultants and Legal Investigators
Personal Injury, Negligence & Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate Litigation
www.DeathCaseReview.com ~ [email protected]
WY - (307) 222-0136 Office and (307) 222-0138 Fax
CO - (970) 480-7793 Office and (970) 480-7794 Fax
'Quaero Indicium' - To Find The Evidence
Keep informed - visit and 'Like' us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/4N6Associates and our agency blog at www.MedicolegalPI.com
Our role as medicolegal death investigators includes reviewing cases for other professional investigators, attorneys and families. They may question the evidence or investigative protocol - they ultimately question the Manner of Death - Natural, Accident, Suicide, Homicide and Undetermined - most often suicide. They may question the Cause of Death - the specific actions, but not often.
Families most often raise concerns because they do not understand the investigative process and may be influenced by lay persons (amateur sleuths) or the media and fictional television shows. Most often, if someone would sit down and answer a few questions, the families may find themselves on the road to closure. However, no one likes their processes and conclusions questioned. Too often we hear from families because their requests are refused. This is highly inappropriate. As deputy coroners we would take any time a family needed to help them understand the process and how we reached the conclusions. Other times it is simply a matter of not accepting the official findings and even multiple independent findings. We most often decline these if we sense this - we are not retained to give answers wanted.
For the professional investigator, this is why we developed the distance learning course - Death Investigations for Private Investigators at www.MedicolegalDeathInvestigations.com. For the lay person, particularly loved ones, this is why we wrote the book - A Survivors' Guide to Death Investigations at www.UnderstandingDeathInvestigations.com. It is why we love what we do, as Voltaire said, "To the living we owe respect. To the living we owe the truth." What do we do? We are Expert Medicolegal Investigator available to review the records, reports, photographs and evidentiary documentation in order to provide a non-medical expert opinion, within the scope of our education, training and experience, as to the totality of the circumstances of the fatal or non-fatal event and the competency of the official investigation, with respect to death investigation protocol and standards. One of the key items of review are photographs. However, because we often receive pushback from official agencies, or there are statutory restrictions to the release of information (i.e. the Dale Earnhardt Law in Florida that prohibits release of photographs, except to next-of-kin or by court order) we may not have photographs to review. How important are photographs? Specific to our consultations, two cases give excellent examples of the importance.
Suicide or Homicide by Ligature Strangulation
A grandson hired some renowned private investigators to find the killer of his grandfather - he absconded from parole in the 60s. The homicide was in the early 1950's, before grandson was born. After finding the killer about five years ago, they began to learn of other suspicious deaths around him. One was his son-in-law, found sitting next to his refrigerator with a belt around his neck and through the handle. It was ruled a suicide. Of course the myth is that people don't kill themselves this way - but it is frequent (Robin Williams was similar, but using a door).
Unfortunately a fire burned some medical examiner records, including this case - but the family did have the autopsy report. The police provided their reports, very poorly done, to the family. No photographs of the autopsy because of the fire; and none from the police - these were lost. We called and spoke to the evidence property Sergeant - who happened to have been at the scene. He informed us the original lead detective. deceased and often did not develop his rolls of film unless asked to - a very bad evidence and protocol violation. He had nothing, but had just inherited a big mess - it was actually national news how bad the evidence room was. Months later we received a package with a CD of photographs! In cleaning the mess they found a box of undeveloped rolls of film from the deceased detective. Not many, not even a dozen, photographs of our case. But - there was one, just one, that showed some bending of the belt consistent with how his wife (daughter of suspect) reported finding him; and showed an intact belt contrary to family 'facts' that the belt had been cut by the daughter (decedent's wife).
Before this we were certain it was consistent with suicide - but shows like CSI create all kinds of myths for families and investigators; everyone is an amateur CSI...most are wrong. That tidbit finally convinced the grandson and other investigators. The grandson had flown here to visit family and specifically with the medical examiner investigator, since resigned for other opportunities. The evidence Sergeant appreciated an independent review, even if it were to have found something, and kept his word to share anything he found. We kept our word to keep what he requested to be as confidential. We still have a good relationship.
The family and all involved are now happy. Most important, an man guilty of one homicide decades ago was no longer a suspect in a witch hunt for what was not a homicide and all other 'suspicious' deaths around him.
So, everything is important and we are not out to debunk a valid official investigation and findings. It does happen, but most often we find ourselves supporting the findings and helping families find closure. You can learn more about our processes and reviewed cases at www.deathcasereview.com/sample-cases.html.
Suicide or Homicide by Shotgun
In another case, a family retained us to review their son's suicide by shotgun. It took them two years to get the records and photographs, not many. Unknown to us, they made an appointment with an attorney to discuss a wrongful death case (the death was in a southern state and the family was in a northern midwest state).
After we concluded it was a suicide - they were a bit upset having made the appointment and flights. In this case, most of the photographs were very helpful. They dispelled some myths and answered for the family some serious questions they had. Questions that no person in the official investigation would take the time to discuss and answer.
The decedent had taken two shotguns with him - an over / under (two barrels, one on top of the other, versus side-by-side) and a semi-automatic shotgun (would discharge, eject and reload with each pull of the trigger, versus a pump action requiring the forestock pump to eject and reload with each pull of the trigger). However, the family was not sure how it could be determined which was used and how he could have been holding one.
The autopsy photos showed a burn on his hand that answered how he was holding the shotgun, and also indicated which shotgun. This burn was angled in such a manner to assist in determining how the shotgun was likely held, and it was consistent with a burn from one cylindrical object. One of the scene photographs had the shotgun and confirmed the rest. From the reports it was learned that one shotgun shell was found approximate to the decedent; the over/under shotgun was unloaded and the break-open breech was closed).
The family had many questions for us and we answered all that were answerable (some questions simply have no answer - we blame myths for this). The family was able to have more answers and some sense of closure. Without the photographs we would have never been able to definitively answer the questions or reach a conclusion.
So, everything is important and we are not out to debunk a valid official investigation and findings. It does happen, but most often we find ourselves supporting the findings and helping families find closure. You can learn more about our processes and reviewed cases at www.deathcasereview.com/sample-cases.html.
-----
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI
Cheyenne WY Licensed Private Investigators (No. OL-15-31146)
Board Certified Legal Investigator / Expert Consultant (national)
Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigators
Certified in Medicolegal Death Investigations / former Deputy Coroners
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
A Rocky Mountain West Agency
Expert Consultants and Legal Investigators
Personal Injury, Negligence & Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate Litigation
www.DeathCaseReview.com ~ [email protected]
WY - (307) 222-0136 Office and (307) 222-0138 Fax
CO - (970) 480-7793 Office and (970) 480-7794 Fax
'Quaero Indicium' - To Find The Evidence
Keep informed - visit and 'Like' us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/4N6Associates and our agency blog at www.MedicolegalPI.com
