The medical examiner is responsible for determining cause of death. In
the case of a violent death, the evidence is examined to rule out or confirm an
accident, suicide, or murder.
In the 12th century, the primary duty of the English coroner
was to record criminal matters in his county, information used to collect fines
and dues owed to the king. By 1887, British law stated that the chief duty of a
coroner was to determine the cause of a sudden or violent death, the only
surviving function of a coroner. Now, the roles of medical examiner and coroner
are combined to simplify the process or to ease financial burden.
Specific elements determine the examination process, such as whether
the case involves a gunshot or knife wound, asphyxiation, or poisoning. When a
murderer arranges a scene to give the appearance of a suicide, evidence -
possibly a fingerprint, might uncover the ruse. If someone tampers with a
suicide scene to suggest the victim’s death is the result of a homicide, however,
the deception could go undetected -unless Horatio is on the scene.
Can you suggest one reason someone might alter a scene to make a
suicide appear to be murder?
Ooh, good question. Let's see ... Insurance money for the family if a man commits suicide and life insurance will only pay in case of a homicide? Or how about a person who is too embarrassed even to admit they are committing suicide, or fears they won't make it to heaven and hope to fool their way into the desired afterlife?
ReplyDeleteI love the question. It has me really thinking!
Alana @ writercize.blogspot.com
Interesting blog and intriguing question.
ReplyDeleteTo misdirect the investigators to an inocent victim in order to inherit a legacy?
To frame someone or for the insurance money which may become void due to suicide. Interesting theme.
ReplyDeleteGood post. Hmmm...maybe to take away the guilt feelings (if the person doing the tampering was the reason the victim committed suicide).
ReplyDeleteInteresting!! What about no money involved, but the family is well known and religious. A suicide would destroy the family and due to the strong religious background it would be seen as sinful?
ReplyDeleteI am stopping by via the A - Z Challenge link up, following you via GFC and Twitter, I stopped by your facebook page and liked it. Feel free to stop by my blog at http://www.scatteredmusings.net/2012/04/buying-car/ (my b- c and d post combined)
Great post! It's got to be for insurance reasons or religious. I'm Catholic and suicide is a big no no.
ReplyDeletedreamweaver
Yes, I just finished reading one of Diana Gabaldon's stories and just that happened.
ReplyDeleteThe victim was murdered, but he wife changed some of the evidence (put the gun in the hand of the dead guy) so it would appear to be a suicide. This was an effort to protect her two sons from becoming targets of the killer.
That was an interesting post, Gail, thanks for sharing. I have a forensics book in my library for info about various weapons.
How about if Hercule is there? He's pretty sharp.
Insurance money was my first thought. I know first hand how painful it can be to have a loved one kill themselves. It's so much easier to believe that they were murdered rather than believe they actually wanted to end their life. Sometimes we want to have someone to blame besides the one who has died or ourselves.
ReplyDeleteGreat info - interesting question.
Hi Gail - found you through the A - Z Challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'd say framing an enemy could be a reason to make an actual suicide look like murder. Let's say two married people are having an affair. The man's spouse finds out, and distraught, commits suicide. The woman's spouse finds out and decides to frame the widower (his own wife's lover). Nothing like good ol' revenge! ;)
Interesting post! Glad I found it.
I would have to say to frame someone else. The first example that comes to mind is political; one official or officer wants another individual out of the game, so s/he drives someone important (and who is also a problem for this evil person) to commit suicide and blames it on the other individual. Two birds with one stone, as it were.
ReplyDeleteHmmm....interesting question. Insurance is pretty obvious but what if you wanted to frame someone for that person's murder?
ReplyDeleteHope you're enjoying the A-Z Challenge,
Monica, Older Mommy Still Yummy
Yep, nothing gets by Horatio (I'm assuming your mention is a reference to CSI: Miami)!!!
ReplyDeleteOne reason why someone may alter a scene to make a suicide appear to be a murder is if the person was asked in advance to do so, by the very individual who is now deceased.
Another reason why someone may alter a suicide scene to make it appear as a murder scene is if the living family wants it to look that way, for social reasons or embarrassment or whatever.
A third reason why someone may alter a scene where suicide scene to make it look like a murder is because this person has fraudulent motives that consist of making some kind of insurance claim on the dead person.
.... I guess. lol.
~Nicole
Blog: The Madlab Post
@MadlabPost on Twitter
Thank you all for some interesting and worthy plot lines for a novel. (I promise not to use them so you can!)
ReplyDelete@Alana, Rekha, Debra, Mary & Monica, You all suggested insurance reasons for staging a suicide to look like a murder. Along with religious reasons (@Debbie and Debra's choices above) this may often be the case, though it would be difficult to gather statistics.
@Sherrie, Tracy, Eagle, Monica and Susan, you each have the devious mind of a mystery writer!
@D.G. thanks for the heads up on author Diana Gabaldon.
Nicole, yes I was referring to CSI: Miami!!! I don't watch television but I have the first 4 seasons' episodes on DVD.
By the way, I had to take a day off yesterday and will visit your blogs today and/or tomorrow!
ReplyDelete