How police deal with suicide cases

Ash99 · Mar 10, 2007

Hi.
I am planning to write a thriller script which begins with a predicted suicide. What I am wondering is how the Police deal with such cases. After the coroner has looked at the body and decided that it is a suicide is there still a court case about the death or do they just put sucided on the death certificate and that's it? is there any good sites for writers which describe how police go about their procedures?

Thanks for your time,
Ash.

alleycat · Mar 10, 2007

There is a good website by a doctor who deals with forensics.

I lost the bookmark. I'll see if I can find it. Until then, these site might have links that would help:

http://mysterywriters.org/pages/resources/links/crime.htm#

http://www.zott.com/MysForum/links.htm

There are probably other sites as well.

Oh, and welcome to AW, Ash. Come and say hello.

illiterwrite · Mar 10, 2007

When my brother killed himself, there was no investigation once it was ruled suicide, but the actual suicide note found in his pocket was kept as evidence. We only got a photocopy. I have no idea why.

You could also call a local police station and ask them about procedures.

Little Red Barn · Mar 10, 2007

Ash, I think it varies State to State, also depends on age, where the death occurred etc...
Usually there will be 2 autopsies if the person died at home--
And always Homicide takes over when a death is suicide--- just a bit of red tape formality

Tsu Dho Nimh · Mar 10, 2007

Ash99 said:
Hi.
I am planning to write a thriller script which begins with a predicted suicide. What I am wondering is how the Police deal with such cases. After the coroner has looked at the body and decided that it is a suicide is there still a court case about the death or do they just put sucided on the death certificate and that's it? is there any good sites for writers which describe how police go about their procedures?

Thanks for your time,
Ash.

Depends on the state laws. There is usually a cursory investigation, but if the cops have no reason to suspect foul play and the coroner concurs, there would be little fuss. They take photos and tissue samples and get on with the burial.

It's when a person is found dead with no obvious cause of death (like Anna NicoleSmith) that you get autopsies, toxicology tests and the like.

Ash99 · Mar 10, 2007

Thanks for the help guys. I found some information about the coroners office and as far as I can tell if a case looks like a suicide and not foul play that it goes no further then an inquest. Only if it looks like a possible murder does the case go to court.

Again thanks for your help. I should hopefully be on the right track now!

How police deal with suicide cases

Ash99

alleycat

Still around

illiterwrite

Little Red Barn

haz own threads

Tsu Dho Nimh

Ash99