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Is it Homicide or Suicide - Test Your Observation Skills

6/4/2017

10 Comments

 
Picture
Recently a friend and colleague of ours shared a cartoon picture of a death scene on social networking. Our thanks to Tom Slovenski (Cellular Forensics - www.cellularforensics.com - SC) for sharing this thought provoking cartoon (below).

This depicted a gunshot wound and asking if this was murder or suicide, based on the picture. Dean's response was 'murder'; but, not because it was obviously - or likely - murder. The answer is because it should be investigated as a murder. Suicide is, in part, the exclusion of Homicide, Accident, Natural and Undetermined.

In watching the posts and responses, it was mixed leaning mostly to murder. There were good reasons, but most were assumptions. Here are a few:
- Murder, gun is in wrong hand for the blood splatter to be on that side of the wall.
- Suicide. She was sitting in her chair facing away from the desk. Stool fell in the direction of the prevailing energy. Cigarette in her hand indicates no sign of struggle. Note on the desk is probably a suicide note.
- Suicide. The cigarette gives it away. For me at least.
- Murder. She writes (note the positioning of the pen and paper) left handed and is smoking with her left hand, indicating she's probably left-handed. But the gun is in the right hand.
- Most women are not going to shots themselves in the head.. cigarette she would have finished it.. plus the gun is in her hand and not on the floor in front of her... if she was on the stool the splatter on the wall would be larger.. too many things not seen.

Taking in mind this is a simple cartoon, and of course a review of all the evidence - records, reports, and photographs is important - one picture can tell a lot. The important take away is to ask questions, dig deeper - and not assume. We have had many cases with key points answered by one photograph. In a recent example, the sitting position of the decedent was confirmed as reported by one witness from two photographs (a patterned imprint on her thigh, and the same pattern on the soles of her shoes). Without photographs - other evidence may have left this witness statements to question.

Take a look at the cartoon and make your own assessment. The actual answer is this remains equivocal - and likely homicide vs. suicide - pending more evidence. Here are some other comments we saw when researching this picture (www.scoopwhoop.com/is-this-a-murder-or-suicide-puzzle/#.bi3ecrqk4):
Murder
1) The person is clearly left-handed. The lamp is placed to the right side which is again a common tendency for a left-handed person. She is even holding a half-burnt cigarette in her left hand so she obviously didn't shoot herself. 
2) Basic human behavior suggests that we tend to finish all our work before committing suicide. So, she would have finished her cigarette first before having to kill herself.
3) She's holding the gun the opposite direction where the blood splatter is at. The point of impact and the blood splatter speak otherwise.
4) When you commit suicide by gun your body releases all tension, meaning the gun would not be in their hand.
5) The light is unplugged, and you can see (what seems like) the night sky in the window. How could the person write a suicide note in the dark?

Suicide
1) The person may very well be right-handed. Look at the position of the pen on the table. It's positioned in a way that suggests that she was using her right hand to write.
2) There's a distinct blood trail in the image. If you lay your head down in that position, you will notice your muscles make a nice pathway for blood to pool at your collar bone, like in the picture. Meaning the wound would have to be on the right temple.
3) The ashtray and coke can on the left-hand side are because he uses his non-dominant hand for recreation.

As you can see, many posting had similar responses to the referenced website. These are all reasonable - but most are assumptions, and may require additional evidence to conclude or exclude.

Here are some key points in the cartoon:
- It is dark outside
- There is a pen and note on the shelf / desk
- There are glasses by the note
- The lamp, to the right of the note, is unplugged
- There is blood spatter on the right wall
- There is a handgun in the decedent's right hand
- There is a cigarette in the decedent's left hand
- The cigarette is not extinguished or finished
- There is one sandal (right foot)
- The stool is over with the seat to the right

For thought provoking examples, what do these items definitely tell us?
- It is dark outside - at the time of this 'photograph' - it may have been daylight when the event occurred, recently became dark during the investigation, or dark when the event occurred and the investigations. It is unknown from this point of information.

- There is a pen and note on the shelf / desk - something was composed or being composed, but what or when is unknown. These are not affirmatively indicative of left or right-handed
- There are glasses by the note - this may indicate the task was done, or interrupted.
- The lamp, to the right of the note, is unplugged - it is not known when the lamp was unplugged or why. Would it make sense for an intruder or person contemplating suicide to unplug the lamp?
- There is blood spatter on the right wall - it is not known if this is wet, drying or dried. It is unknown height but looking to be lower than the decedent's height and consistent with sitting on the stool.
- There is a handgun in the decedent's right hand - it is not known if the decedent is right or left-handed; statistically the dominant hand is used.

- There is a cigarette in the decedent's left hand- it is not known if the decedent is right or left-handed; statistically the dominant hand is used. But, as others pointed out - persons who bowl, shoot pool, carry firearms, etc., are known to keep their dominant hand / strong side free.
- The cigarette is not extinguished or finished - this is one of the more potentially telling pieces of evidence. If burning at the time of the event, it would usually continue to burn (cigarettes may also extinguish unfinished if not inhaled). Any degree of use and ashes would be helpful to a timeline.
- There is one sandal (right foot) - the other may be 'off camera'; we simply do not know but should - is it in another location?
- The stool is over with the seat to the right - it appears likely this was where the decedent was seated; there is nothing that contradicts this.

What story does this tell us? As a thought-provoking consideration...
The decedent was smoking a cigarette and composing a note or letter, while drinking a soda. After lighting a cigarette, the decedent was interrupted - taking offer their glasses - and turned around on her stool to face the other person. The decedent was then shot and killed, and the firearm placed in their right hand.
(or, the decedent was not smoking a cigarette and that was placed in their hand by the intruder)
(or, the decedent was surprised, shot, and then the handgun and cigarette placed in their hands, moving the body in the process)

Or, another thought provoking consideration...
The decedent was composing a note or letter, and having completed it placed their glasses down, lit a cigarette, turned around and then committed suicide by a single gunshot wound to the head.


There are different possibilities because there is one definitive piece of information not revealed in the cartoon...

This is one reason for a forensic autopsy - even when the Cause and Manner of Death are 'obvious'. This is not definitive without an autopsy telling us the entrance, and likely exit, of the GSW. Examination of the decedent and weapon is also necessary to determine range of fire - contact, close contact, mid-range or distant. Is there any blood spatter / blowback on the firearm?

From these points, we can begin looking at positions and discrepancies. Regardless of murder or suicide - it is important to not assume any facts not in the evidence - which are not actually facts; it is simply unverified information. As an example, the lamp is unplugged and it appears to be dark outside - some would say she would have the lamp on in the dark - but no one really knows when this happened. There are other nuances that can lead to assumptions - valid or not. It is contextual (circumstantial) and empirical.

What happened? We don't definitively know. What are your thoughts? What points do you see? What investigative steps would you take?



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10 Comments
Steven kelley
6/5/2017 08:26:09 am

Murder, if the person was sitting facing the window, the gun is in the wrong hand. If they where facing away from the window, blood spate seems wrong, if they where standing, blood slater is too low. The person was smoking, so would most likely be facing window to use ashtray.

Reply
Jim Silvania link
6/6/2017 10:24:10 am

It's what ever the coroner says it is and once that ruling id made, be it either right or wrong, it's difficult to change no matter how skilled the investigator is

Reply
Norm Hayden
6/6/2017 09:25:06 pm

Two years ago, my 39 yr.old son was found shot to death in his motel room in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Almost immediately, his death was ruled a suicide. It made no sense to me two years ago, and makes even less sense today. The cartoon was very interesting to me in that most who made comments could make a case for homicide or suicide either way, with reasonable doubt. But in real life, like my Son's death, I could give you 10 reasons it was homicide to 1 reason it wasn't. I truly believe some one gat away with murder and they are still out there.

Reply
Dean and Karen Beers link
6/8/2017 05:26:30 am

Mr. Hayden,
We are very sorry for the loss of your son - please accept our sincerest condolences. If you would like to contact our office about your concerns, please feel free to do so any time.

Respectfully, Dean and Karen Beers
http://www.deathcasereview.com/contact-us.html

Reply
Kristy Liles
7/15/2017 09:48:26 pm

My nephew was found dead (gun shot entry to the forehead) at 11:59 pm July 4, 2017. He was sitting in a chair on the back patio at the residence of 2 new "girlfriends" of his fiance. According to the statement given to the police by this "friend" who he had only known for less than 6 weeks, she came home and found him dead on her back patio and called 911. Several days later his mother heald a memorial service for him and the 2 "friends" (one who claimed she came home and found him) attended the memorial, arriving with my nephew's fiance. I am a private investigator, and to my advantage none of the girls were aware of that. Along with the rest of the family, naturally we had alot of questions. I stood not saying a word and listened to the "story" the girls told not only the family but also the police and detectives. Immediately...I knew there was more to the story than what was being told, both girls were unable to keep their "facts" straight. Immediately after they told the family what they claimed had happened, both girls and the fiance walked out the door of the funeral home as quickly as they could heading to their vehicle. I followed behind the girls as they were whispering to each other and were visibility very anxious and nervous. Before they were able to enter their vehicle I approached the girls as a "broken hearted family member" which was true and I began questioning them in a much different manner than the hostil family members that they had just encountered. I appeared very concerned not only by what happened but also about their "emotional well-being" , after all they had just came home and found an UNBELIEVABLELY bloody, gruesome dead body on their patio, their "friend"! One thing I noticed aside from the inconsistentancy in their stories, not ONE of the girls showed an ounce of emotion! I started the conversation with questions about them and how they were holding up then proceeded to blend in questions about what happened and what they saw. Both girls gave me a COMPLETELY different story, which I recorded naturally (time-stamped & dated). The story I was told which I believe since I was the first and only person who had been told, BOTH girls were home when my nephew died. They stated, they had been drinking and there were 2 men in the house in addition to 3 small children, 1 of the children belonged to my nephew's fiance, the 3 yr old little girl has never known any man other than my nephew as her father, they were inseparable! His fiance stated she watched my nephew walk upstairs where her daughter was sleeping to check on her, he opens the night stand drawer and pulled out a 38 hand gun and put it in his pocket and kept it there while he walked around the house for 45 mins. Keep in mind, my nephew had just recently met these new friends of his fiance, so how would he had known there was a gun in that drawer. His fiance said after she watched him walk around with a gun in his pocket she decided it would be a good idea to leave and go to McDonald's to get everyone food. During the time she was gone the friends stated they heard the gunshot and thought it was fire crackers. Several minutes later they walked downstairs and found my nephew dead on the back patio, his head was completely blown off! He was 6'5 and 380 pnds..alot a man for a 38. They stated they DID NOT call 911 immediately instead they called additional friends to quickly help them get the children and DRUGS out of the house before they made the call. The fiance was one of the people called, she and 1 other person arrived at the house very quickly..she grabbed her daughter and left the residence with 1 of the 2 "girlfriends" .. minutes later the 2 men, the other children and the friend that shown up to help left the residence and THEN the 911 call was made! During the conversation not ONE of the girls or my nephew's fiance of 4 yrs shed 1 tear or shown 1 sign of emotion other than the girl that made the 911 call. I met with the Detectives 2 days later and gave them the information I obtained and I also gained some very shocking information. My nephew was supposivly sitting in a chair when he shot himself, the detectives said they found him face down on the ground with his cell phone in his right hand and the gun still in his LEFT hand. My nephew was right handed and the cell phone in his hand upon their arrival was not his phone. The other odd thing is supposivly my nephew sent out 10 suiside text messages before he died. Everyone received the messages AFTER 911 arrived and the messages were not sent from the phone found in his hand EXCEPT for 1 ..a very heartbreaking text message to his fiance! Everyone, PLEASE tell me how many concerning issues do you see that would raise suspicion that my nephew's death was not a suiside? One thing we do know for a fact is my nephew and his fiance had recently separated because he literally caught her in the act of cheating. She moved out of their home and moved into the home with her 2 gi

Reply
Dean A. Beers
7/16/2017 07:57:00 am

Hi Ms. Liles,

We are very sorry for the loss of your nephew - please accept our sincerest condolences. If you would like to contact our office about your concerns, please feel free to do so any time.

Respectfully, Dean and Karen Beers
http://www.deathcasereview.com/contact-us.html

Ted Turney
6/13/2017 09:20:04 pm

I say murder. She had to have been sitting down facing away from the window based on the blood spatter height & location. The position of the stool makes no sense assuming she was sitting on it. If you pivot the stool up (so it's standing) it's too far to the left from the suicide note for her to be able to write on it & the desk lamp is unplugged (maybe she knocked it out while falling). It's also too far away from the bloodied wall to make that small of a spatter pattern. She appears to be right-handed based on the angle of the note.The cigarette is snuffed out, looks to be planted & is not in her dominant hand. The recoil from the gun probably would've knocked it & the gun out of her hands anyhow. But the sandal(s) would probably have stayed on. All initial speculation & the important stuff is yet to be revealed.

Reply
Chuck Whiteman
6/20/2017 09:08:12 pm

I'm working on a homicide/suicide case right now. What strikes me is the amount of blood on the wall. Head through shots are not that bloody. The comments about spatter on the gun and hand would be a major factor. Of course, we don't know the location of the entrance or exit.

Reply
T.J. Mitchell link
8/18/2019 11:46:53 am

The forensic autopsy might also shed light on the question of why the gun is apparently gripped in the decedent's hand: If the manner was suicide, and if the bullet track traveled through the brain without immediately affecting the brain stem, then it's possible that the person still had seconds to minutes of muscle control before brain injury led to lights-out. Shooting yourself in the head does not necessarily mean instant death. (Caveat: I'm an amateur, a writer married to a forensic pathologist, and together we publish detective fiction on this subject; second caveat that I am posting this without consulting the doctor herself on whether or not I'm right, or competent to make this call—!)

Reply
Swati
4/16/2020 04:32:45 pm

Homicide/Suicide? - Derivation:

Positioning the deceased's scene at the time prior to death:
1. If the deceased person [I term as Subject here] were facing the window, and given the gun in subject's right hand, the blood splatter wouldn't be on the subject's right side of the wall. So, the subject has to be placed with head off [not facing] the window, be it suicide or homicide.
2. Assuming the subject was not facing the window but away from it, and sitting on the stool:
Now, what we have is: the blood splatter is on the subject's left side of the wall, almost being parallel in position of the gun placement in his/her hand, and the gun is on the right hand and the cigar from the pictorial scene is in the subject's left hand -->
a. This positioning clearly says the person is most likely a left handed person 'coz a lefty seldom uses his/her non dominant hand for cigarette smoking.
b. If the subject were indeed left handed, then the gun seldom can be placed in his/her right hand to kill himself/herself [i.e. If it were a suicide, and assuming that he/she is indeed left handed, the deceased cannot use his/her non dominant hand (i.e. the right hand) to kill himself/herself especially whilst smoking a cigar in the left hand, at the same time.]
c. Based on the blood splatter being present on the subject's left side of the wall, If the deceased were a lefty, and assuming that the bullet path after the gun firing is almost parallel to the gun positioning on the head
when the subject was seated on the stool prior to death, path being parallel, from left to right, the chances of the person being left handed committing a suicide, more so, the person being a female committing suicide with firearm to her head, in her non dominant hand, whilst smoking a cigar in her left hand, would be almost slim to none, in my opinion.

Hence, it's most likely a Murder.

I am intentionally ignoring the other points such as the closed window, the suicide note, the unplugged lamp and etc. as they seem to be elaborate setup to project that its a murder, but my initial and pivotal observation and logic I laid out above is what I'd go with, "given the fact that I am presented only with a picture of the death scene as shown in the above pic".

P.S. I say it's "most likely" a murder as in other words, initial theory.

I am a mere learning enthusiast of such topics and neither a forensic expert nor an investigator. Just saying this only from what I was presented with. So, would love to know the actual answers from the one who posted the pic or the questioner rather.

Reply



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