Expert: Jack Toomey - 1/25/2010

Question
QUESTION: I am a writer and a character (a run-away living in a charity house owned and run by a single man)in my story commits suicide either by ODing or ODing and carving up her arms. What kind of investigation would take place? What would be the procedure? Thank you for your time.

ANSWER: All deaths are considered to be homicides until proven otherwise.  So the death of this person would be first considered a homicide until all factors are eliminated.


A lot of times a person who ingests too much medicine will throw up so that would be an indicator of an overdose.  Friends and associates would be interviewed to determine the state of her mental health and any declarations she might have made about committing suicide.  If she had a doctor he would also be interviewed.

If she overdosed on pills then pill bottles should be nearby.  They would be collected and sent along with the body for autopsy.  In fact all medicine in the house would be included.  The medical examiner would collect blood at the autopsy and it would be tested for the presence of the ingredients of whatever medicines were nearby or found open.  

Of course it would be helpful to prove an intent to commit suicide so the house would be searched for a note and if none was found then the person's computer might be seized and sent to experts for analyzing for emails, etc, that would indicate suicide.

If she cut her arms then the weapon (razor blade, knife) would be found nearby.  If its not found nearby then it probably is not a suicide.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: After questioning her house-mates and teachers and finding out that she was a jittery person with a history of drug abuse but no talk of suicide or suicide note how long would the questioning last? Would the investigation and questioning still be in progress after a month and a half?

Answer
Becky,

Every case is different and no two cases are alike.  So its impossible to tell you how long questioning would/could take.  It might be an hour or it might be three months depending on the availability of witnesses, friends, family, and doctors.

However if the person was "jittery" and a history of drug abuse that would point more towards an accidental overdoes than a suicide. Drug abusers/addicts don't commit suicide.