Hey there kiddos, this is your favorite ex cop/current convict COP2CON. Todays lesson is about what happens when you die from suicide from a law enforcement stand point. I dealt with many of these calls and have extensive experience. While I was patrol, because we were short I got to do a lot of investigator work as well and have seen the entire process start to finish. My goal is to educate and if I'm lucky, maybe this will be a sticky and my life will be complete as I will be forever immortal. Please note, this will be hard to hear as I saw the aftermath and will be blunt about it. Its why I continue to want everyone to choose life ( I know I'm a hypocrite). I have seen the other half of what happens. Also to note, this is mainly how law enforcement agencies in the US investigate suicide and while there are always a few differences, overall almost every law enforcement agency will do things the same or similar. This first part is for normal deceased person calls, I will discuss special circumstances the end. Let's begin.......
Suicide is classified as a sudden death and pretty much everywhere is subject to a full investigation by law enforcement. That means crime scene processing, detectives, warrants, the whole shabang. When someone is found deceased usually emergency services are called(9-1-1). Immediately EMS (ambulance) and law enforcement are simultaneously dispatched. Dispatch may advise that it is reported as suicide but it is always a "deceased person" until the investigation is complete, no matter how clear cut.
Law enforcement usually arrives first and if someone is on scene to allow entry, law enforcement will enter to "clear" (safety sweep)the residence/location. They will then check on the deceased person and the area to see any immediate evidence of foul play or safety hazards. Sometimes EMS will arrive first and when law enforcement gets there they will do the same thing regardless. If you appear "fresh", the cop may try CPR and life saving measures. Same with EMS but if its estimated you've been gone longer than like 15-20 minutes, all that is done is EMS attaches AED ( Automated External Defibulator)pads to get a flat line read out and then they call it. If you've been down awhile and both rigor and liver mortis are present then it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure it out and nothing is done.
Usually law enforcement will linger inside but will eventually back out to wait for investigators, the coroner/medical examiner, and warrants. Some states do not need warrants as long as the coroner is there doing the work. I have been a coroner "helper" many times. Pictures are taken of the body, the area around, the whole house or wherever, generally EVERYTHING is photographed. Possessions are gone through and usually a pile is made of what is going to be taken into evidence. Note: if it is a big department with a crime scene unit, its a little more CSI'ish but smaller areas its a little more relaxed. Also, usually its standard to take any phones, computers or laptops, or any communication device into evidence. We took a PlayStation once.
After the first evidence sweep is done and after the coroner gives the OK, the body is moved. More photos are taken. Sometimes pockets are gone through, sometimes not depending on procedure. The coroner and his team ( or in the case of where I worked, me or anyone else) then put the body in a body bag. It is not gentle and is usually a pain in the ass. It is just a meat sack at that point. Please also note: may God have mercy on your soul if you die upstairs. Even if someone was dead, by the time we carried them down the stairs I wanted to throat punch them repeatedly. I have also dropped bodies down the stairs on 2 occasions because they are f'ing heavy.
Anyhoo, the coroner takes the body to whatever morgue/cooler that they use. A second evidence sweep is made, everything properly bagged, and the scene is exited. About this time, someone is usually making contact with the next of kin. Out of the many deceased persons I worked, I NEVER ONCE had one that no one loved and wasn't devastated so think about that. Informing next of kin sucks, you just have to be blunt and if they survive hearing their loved one is gone they might not when you tell them it is suspected to be suicide. I usually had EMS waiting in the street when I made notifications.
The loved one is told basic details but usually not much and that the investigation is pending and they will be contacted. They are given the coroners information so they can coordinate what will happen to the remains. The cop then goes back in service and does a basic report on the matter which is transferred to the investigators for further investigation.
Your body in most places goes to the "morgue" which in a lot of places is an equipment shed with coolers. Paperwork is done and the body is left. Most states as I stated above, require an autopsy for any sudden or unexpected death, suicide included. There is usually no way around it and your body will be taken to a state crime lab or sometimes a state medical examiner will travel to a location. An autopsy is performed usually quickly but there are horror stories of bodies waiting months for autopsy. Suspected suicides are low priorty to murders or overall unknown causes of death. Your body is eventually released to your loved ones to dispose of how they see fit. I could give a brief overview of the funerary process but that might be another thread. Note, blood is taken nearly immediately to be used for a Tox screen.
The investigation into the deceased person (suspected suicide) case goes on. Pretty much everyone you have associated with will be contacted. Family, friends, work mates, neighbors, everyone recent in your phone, sometimes even people you have emailed. Warrants will have been issued to download and search all data from any devices. Usually starts with Cellebrite but every investigations bureau has direct lines with Apple, Google, Facebook, and many other places. Its extremely difficult to purge your data and most of the time it can be mostly recovered. Once someone is dead, most companies see no reason to keep their privacy and no matter what is advertised, they will work with law enforcement in a heartbeat. All thats needed is a warrant which is super easy to get when someone's dead.
Evidence is processed, maybe sent to state labs, autopsy results come back, and sometimes months later, it is all formally declared a suicide. An investigators report is completed and the case closed. What they say about the ones left behind is true and for months they will call anyone associated with the case because most people cannot accept it. They asked us questions we didn't know the answer to or didn't have the heart to tell them. It really is torture for them and they also have a high suicide/mortality rate.
Why is all this done? CYA, Cover Your Ass. A straight up looking suicide or any death for that matter can be murder or lead other directions. I have seen a obvious looking suicide be a murder. I had one that while it was a suicide, it occurred because he was involved in a rather complex synthetic drug dealing ring. The case later went federal. Others ended up as accidental rather than suicide. No matter how clear cut you think it could be, it can always be something else.
So below I will list some special circumstances stuff outside of the regular "found at home" death. Its not all inclusive, just what I can think of at the moment.
*If at a residence or general building and a death or person down is reported inside, law enforcement may enter without a warrant due to "exigent circumstances". That includes forcing entry. This is done if no one can let law enforcement or EMS in.
* EMS generally cannot force their way into a home or structure and must wait for law enforcement.
* If you die of fentanyl, it is extremely dangerous for first responders no matter where you are. It is a courtesy to leave a note at the point of entry or in an obvious place away from immediate area. Same goes for chemical gas suicides.
*If someone dies out in the middle of nowhere, the process is still the same. Once the person is identified, the process unfolds about the same. If initially unidentifiable then it takes longer as missing person reports must be tediously gone through with the information a medical examiner or forensic anthropologist provides.
*For people thinking they will just disappear, its very hard to do. Unless you have never exited your house or used an electronic device, there is a paper trail. Sometimes it takes awhile but the majority of people are located and identified.
*Merely going into the woods does not mean someone won't be found. Bodies smell and its a very distinct smell, different from a dead animal if you can believe it. It carries a long way and most people will notice.
* If no one finds a deceased person for awhile, decomposition sets in. It literally ruins everything in the area and loved ones get pissed when they get told they can't have a lot of the possessions. Its a biohazard so anything in the general area of a decomposing body gets disposed of. Applies to messy deaths as well. Also 4 or 5 day old decomposed body in the heat, stinks. The smell WILL NOT come out of certain fabrics. I have thrown away a few uniform shirts because no amount of washing got rid of the smell.
* Related to above, if indoors, a particularly messy death such as 12 gauge shotgun in the mouth or someone who is not found quickly, costs a lot of money. Its not simply remove the body and use bleach to clean the area. Most states have laws and regulatons saying what must be done. I have seen someone suck start a shotgun and it cost $75,000 to properly repair and sanitize the room. A decomposing body cost $30,000 because it took a month, numerous chemical treatments, and new drywall to get rid of the smell. Families and property owners are responsible for the bill or else they can be red tagged and declared uninhabitable.
* The body removal process is not pretty. I have seen someone die while sitting at a built in desk. He was in full rigor and the coroner ended up breaking both of his legs to get him out. It was my first body call (an OD that was planned and accidental at the same time) and I nearly lost it. Breaking bones sucks. I once saw someone who died after getting hit by a car. The coroner just happened to be right there in his personal pick up truck. What was left of the body was put in a bag and thrown in the bed of his truck.
* If someone lives with another person, it is a courtesy to let the other person know such as waiting till they are gone and leaving a note at the point of entry. There was one where a guy made a legit, good helium hood. He made his exit and his family reported him after he had not checked in for a month. They waited so long because the knew he had been busy with work. His roommate wasn't close to him and never paid attention. Said roommate also had a disorder where he constantly smelled garbage/rotting meat all the time. By the time the guy was found, his entire head had melted into the bottom of the hood and only a skull was left. The rest of the body wasn't too bad but the hood accelerated decomposition on the head.
* A note, a deceased person is obviously always found by someone. In the case of traumatic deaths someone, a neighbor, friend, family member, first responders, etc. will find the remains. For non first responders, it is traumatic and can lead to numerous mental health issues. For first responders, the same applies. I was not trained by my state or agency in any way to see the F-ed up things I saw, smelled, tasted, felt, or heard. First responders may see it regularly and some are OK but many will remember it forever. Its equally traumatic. Do not think no one is affected if its first responders that are the first ones to find someone.
*Finally, also stated above, I have never had a suicide where no one cared. There was ALWAYS at least one person whom was devastated. Please try to talk to someone and if the don't listen or dont seem to care, try someone else. Keep going because I guarantee you'll find someone.
That sums it up for now. There are things I probably overlooked but its taken hours for me to type this. I can try to answer questions but again, I was a US cop, I don't know specifics on other countries. I just feel like everyone should be informed to the best of my knowledge if it helps. Sorry for spelling errors and typos and such....its a lot and my autocorrect does not catch much.
Suicide is classified as a sudden death and pretty much everywhere is subject to a full investigation by law enforcement. That means crime scene processing, detectives, warrants, the whole shabang. When someone is found deceased usually emergency services are called(9-1-1). Immediately EMS (ambulance) and law enforcement are simultaneously dispatched. Dispatch may advise that it is reported as suicide but it is always a "deceased person" until the investigation is complete, no matter how clear cut.
Law enforcement usually arrives first and if someone is on scene to allow entry, law enforcement will enter to "clear" (safety sweep)the residence/location. They will then check on the deceased person and the area to see any immediate evidence of foul play or safety hazards. Sometimes EMS will arrive first and when law enforcement gets there they will do the same thing regardless. If you appear "fresh", the cop may try CPR and life saving measures. Same with EMS but if its estimated you've been gone longer than like 15-20 minutes, all that is done is EMS attaches AED ( Automated External Defibulator)pads to get a flat line read out and then they call it. If you've been down awhile and both rigor and liver mortis are present then it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure it out and nothing is done.
Usually law enforcement will linger inside but will eventually back out to wait for investigators, the coroner/medical examiner, and warrants. Some states do not need warrants as long as the coroner is there doing the work. I have been a coroner "helper" many times. Pictures are taken of the body, the area around, the whole house or wherever, generally EVERYTHING is photographed. Possessions are gone through and usually a pile is made of what is going to be taken into evidence. Note: if it is a big department with a crime scene unit, its a little more CSI'ish but smaller areas its a little more relaxed. Also, usually its standard to take any phones, computers or laptops, or any communication device into evidence. We took a PlayStation once.
After the first evidence sweep is done and after the coroner gives the OK, the body is moved. More photos are taken. Sometimes pockets are gone through, sometimes not depending on procedure. The coroner and his team ( or in the case of where I worked, me or anyone else) then put the body in a body bag. It is not gentle and is usually a pain in the ass. It is just a meat sack at that point. Please also note: may God have mercy on your soul if you die upstairs. Even if someone was dead, by the time we carried them down the stairs I wanted to throat punch them repeatedly. I have also dropped bodies down the stairs on 2 occasions because they are f'ing heavy.
Anyhoo, the coroner takes the body to whatever morgue/cooler that they use. A second evidence sweep is made, everything properly bagged, and the scene is exited. About this time, someone is usually making contact with the next of kin. Out of the many deceased persons I worked, I NEVER ONCE had one that no one loved and wasn't devastated so think about that. Informing next of kin sucks, you just have to be blunt and if they survive hearing their loved one is gone they might not when you tell them it is suspected to be suicide. I usually had EMS waiting in the street when I made notifications.
The loved one is told basic details but usually not much and that the investigation is pending and they will be contacted. They are given the coroners information so they can coordinate what will happen to the remains. The cop then goes back in service and does a basic report on the matter which is transferred to the investigators for further investigation.
Your body in most places goes to the "morgue" which in a lot of places is an equipment shed with coolers. Paperwork is done and the body is left. Most states as I stated above, require an autopsy for any sudden or unexpected death, suicide included. There is usually no way around it and your body will be taken to a state crime lab or sometimes a state medical examiner will travel to a location. An autopsy is performed usually quickly but there are horror stories of bodies waiting months for autopsy. Suspected suicides are low priorty to murders or overall unknown causes of death. Your body is eventually released to your loved ones to dispose of how they see fit. I could give a brief overview of the funerary process but that might be another thread. Note, blood is taken nearly immediately to be used for a Tox screen.
The investigation into the deceased person (suspected suicide) case goes on. Pretty much everyone you have associated with will be contacted. Family, friends, work mates, neighbors, everyone recent in your phone, sometimes even people you have emailed. Warrants will have been issued to download and search all data from any devices. Usually starts with Cellebrite but every investigations bureau has direct lines with Apple, Google, Facebook, and many other places. Its extremely difficult to purge your data and most of the time it can be mostly recovered. Once someone is dead, most companies see no reason to keep their privacy and no matter what is advertised, they will work with law enforcement in a heartbeat. All thats needed is a warrant which is super easy to get when someone's dead.
Evidence is processed, maybe sent to state labs, autopsy results come back, and sometimes months later, it is all formally declared a suicide. An investigators report is completed and the case closed. What they say about the ones left behind is true and for months they will call anyone associated with the case because most people cannot accept it. They asked us questions we didn't know the answer to or didn't have the heart to tell them. It really is torture for them and they also have a high suicide/mortality rate.
Why is all this done? CYA, Cover Your Ass. A straight up looking suicide or any death for that matter can be murder or lead other directions. I have seen a obvious looking suicide be a murder. I had one that while it was a suicide, it occurred because he was involved in a rather complex synthetic drug dealing ring. The case later went federal. Others ended up as accidental rather than suicide. No matter how clear cut you think it could be, it can always be something else.
So below I will list some special circumstances stuff outside of the regular "found at home" death. Its not all inclusive, just what I can think of at the moment.
*If at a residence or general building and a death or person down is reported inside, law enforcement may enter without a warrant due to "exigent circumstances". That includes forcing entry. This is done if no one can let law enforcement or EMS in.
* EMS generally cannot force their way into a home or structure and must wait for law enforcement.
* If you die of fentanyl, it is extremely dangerous for first responders no matter where you are. It is a courtesy to leave a note at the point of entry or in an obvious place away from immediate area. Same goes for chemical gas suicides.
*If someone dies out in the middle of nowhere, the process is still the same. Once the person is identified, the process unfolds about the same. If initially unidentifiable then it takes longer as missing person reports must be tediously gone through with the information a medical examiner or forensic anthropologist provides.
*For people thinking they will just disappear, its very hard to do. Unless you have never exited your house or used an electronic device, there is a paper trail. Sometimes it takes awhile but the majority of people are located and identified.
*Merely going into the woods does not mean someone won't be found. Bodies smell and its a very distinct smell, different from a dead animal if you can believe it. It carries a long way and most people will notice.
* If no one finds a deceased person for awhile, decomposition sets in. It literally ruins everything in the area and loved ones get pissed when they get told they can't have a lot of the possessions. Its a biohazard so anything in the general area of a decomposing body gets disposed of. Applies to messy deaths as well. Also 4 or 5 day old decomposed body in the heat, stinks. The smell WILL NOT come out of certain fabrics. I have thrown away a few uniform shirts because no amount of washing got rid of the smell.
* Related to above, if indoors, a particularly messy death such as 12 gauge shotgun in the mouth or someone who is not found quickly, costs a lot of money. Its not simply remove the body and use bleach to clean the area. Most states have laws and regulatons saying what must be done. I have seen someone suck start a shotgun and it cost $75,000 to properly repair and sanitize the room. A decomposing body cost $30,000 because it took a month, numerous chemical treatments, and new drywall to get rid of the smell. Families and property owners are responsible for the bill or else they can be red tagged and declared uninhabitable.
* The body removal process is not pretty. I have seen someone die while sitting at a built in desk. He was in full rigor and the coroner ended up breaking both of his legs to get him out. It was my first body call (an OD that was planned and accidental at the same time) and I nearly lost it. Breaking bones sucks. I once saw someone who died after getting hit by a car. The coroner just happened to be right there in his personal pick up truck. What was left of the body was put in a bag and thrown in the bed of his truck.
* If someone lives with another person, it is a courtesy to let the other person know such as waiting till they are gone and leaving a note at the point of entry. There was one where a guy made a legit, good helium hood. He made his exit and his family reported him after he had not checked in for a month. They waited so long because the knew he had been busy with work. His roommate wasn't close to him and never paid attention. Said roommate also had a disorder where he constantly smelled garbage/rotting meat all the time. By the time the guy was found, his entire head had melted into the bottom of the hood and only a skull was left. The rest of the body wasn't too bad but the hood accelerated decomposition on the head.
* A note, a deceased person is obviously always found by someone. In the case of traumatic deaths someone, a neighbor, friend, family member, first responders, etc. will find the remains. For non first responders, it is traumatic and can lead to numerous mental health issues. For first responders, the same applies. I was not trained by my state or agency in any way to see the F-ed up things I saw, smelled, tasted, felt, or heard. First responders may see it regularly and some are OK but many will remember it forever. Its equally traumatic. Do not think no one is affected if its first responders that are the first ones to find someone.
*Finally, also stated above, I have never had a suicide where no one cared. There was ALWAYS at least one person whom was devastated. Please try to talk to someone and if the don't listen or dont seem to care, try someone else. Keep going because I guarantee you'll find someone.
That sums it up for now. There are things I probably overlooked but its taken hours for me to type this. I can try to answer questions but again, I was a US cop, I don't know specifics on other countries. I just feel like everyone should be informed to the best of my knowledge if it helps. Sorry for spelling errors and typos and such....its a lot and my autocorrect does not catch much.
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