I think a death in 1999 labeled as "suicide" was actually a "homocide" how can I get them to reopen the case?

Question

My mother supposedly committed suicide in 1999. I was 15 years old at the time. Everything about it was fishy. The first words out of my mouth the morning of discovering her was "dad did it" she had an autopsy report putting so much drugs and alcohol in her system that I doubt she was even conscience. We lived in a town that I doubt had ever experienced anything like this and immediately wrote it off as suicide. My parents fought the night of her death. After her death my father disowned his two daughters and left us for our own. LOTS of things don't add up which I won't put unless people request more info. There WAS luckily an autopsy report done and pictures of the scene taken that are all still on file. I believe there would be enough evidence that once getting the case reopened it could be labeled a homicide instead of suicide. I don't care whether my dad gets arrested or not, I just need to know if she did it or if someone else did for closure. How would I go about doing this?

Answer 1

1) What is the motive? What were they arguing about? How much was the family estate worth at the time of death? Was the value of the estate enough to be a motive? In California, when a parent dies without a will it is called intestate succession. Essentially, the surviving spouse gets about 3/4 and the remaining heirs get the rest. I'm puzzled about this "disown" thing as it cannot be done unless your mother disowned you in her will.



2) What was the cause of death? What kind of drugs were used? What do you think the cause of death was? Was your mother a drug user? Was she mentally unstable? Were the pills prescription? What condition was the prescription for?



3) Did the father remarry? Was he your father or just a stepfather? Was there another woman? What was the scene? Why is it important in your mind?



4) You mention that there is evidence, well, what is it? You only discuss things that are "fishy" or that it's a "small town." Besides those things, what specifically made this death fishy?



Edit 1: Well, there is no statute of limitations for murder, meaning, you can be tried for murder at any time. Here are two links to a case in my area where new evidence brought the case to trial. http://www.ksbw.com/news/1089305/detail.html, http://www.ksbw.com/news/5091391/detail.html.



I'm unclear about your statement that you don't care if your dad gets arrested or not and that you simply want closure. This seems a bit passive aggressive to me, particularly when you are asking that the authorities reopen the case. Be honest with yourself, do you want your dad in prison for life or not?



Speaking from the defense perspective, I have never done this as procedure nor have I seen it done. But knowing that the police can investigate "cold cases" whenever and a DA can charge independently of the police, you have two shots. I would compile all the information you have and get whatever other documentation you can, including the documented conclusions of the insurers. You can use the public records act to request documents held by the police. I would hire a private investigator to speak with the police and the investigator would in turn draft reports.



All of these documents would ultimately be made into an organized packet which would be submitted to the DA and the investigating officer in the case. You would request appointments to speak with these persons and bring your investigator along. Then they would decide. I wouldn't get your hopes up too high since there is no "new" evidence that you discussed, like DNA.

Answer 2

After this length of time its up to the discretion of the DA and the police. With short funds and many tasks most are not eager to solve a crime that they though was already solved. First I would go to the DA and ask him/her to reopen the case. You should have all the information you have gathered organized so he/she can review the file and your submissions. If the DA is not willing it will be necessary to drum up community support. The best direction is to have the media do a story about you and your sister abandoned by your dad and are sure you mother would not abandon you and your sister by committing suicide. With statements by you and your sister it will be clear the police did not do a through job. The media like those kind of stories and a reporter interviewing the DA about reopening the case may get him to change.

Answer 3

They will not reopen the case unless there is proof that this was a homicide. Your suspicions are not proof. You do not need proof of who did this, just proof that this was a homicide. About the only thing you can do at this point is to hire a good private investigator who can take the autopsy report to another professional medical examiner and they can find something.

Answer 4

Sorry, but you are not a medical or law enforcment official, you really can't say whether or not it was suspicious.



Sounds to me like you are going through denial. You may want to seek therapy. The police will not reopen the investigation unless you have some new piece of evidence to provide that says it wasn't a suicide.

Answer 5

Talk with a lawyer. Tell him your reasons and suspicions and see if there's any evidence.

I'm sorry about your mom, I hope you find the truth.

Answer 6

You can't!