Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I am posting in CT and have some questions concerning a suicide that occured last month.
My sister was depressed and an alcoholic. The family knew she was drinking agin. What we didn't know was that 3 months ago she had tried swallowing pills. Her boyfriend did not tell the family about this which I can accept as it was her right not to have the family know. Boyfriend did not seek emergency intervention but did induce vomitting on her. Last month, she was successful. She took pills and was found the next morning.
I have a problem with the way the boyfriend handled things when this happened. It seems like when he got home he may have known she took the pills, they were his pills. Sister was sleeping and when he woke her she made mention that she may not wake up. Which she didn't. He also did not call 911 for an hour or so when he found her the next morning instead called his brother who came to the house. ( this is what he told us) Bottle of pills was missing when he was interviewed by the police. He also said he was her husband and so no family was notifide by the police that my sister had died. Medical examiner was called, autopsy done and info was given to the boyfriend who still claimed to be her husband.
I just want to know the basics of a suicide investigation.
Is it a crime to delay calling an ambulance, is it a crime to falsely claim to be a victim spouse during an investigation. Also if he had known she took the pills and was difficult to wake up because of this, is it a crime to not call for medical help and let this person go to sleep knowing she took the pills? Can I get a copy of the police report and would it be neccessary or helpful to speak to the officer who investigated that day with information such as this.
Thank you fo any feedback. I know nothing will bring my sister back but I can't sleep with all these questions

Unfortunately, no. Your sister made the decision to take the pills, he didn't force her to take them. And there's a huge gap between "seems like he should have known" and proving he knew she took the pills. Frankly, I don't know of any laws regarding the delay of calling 911, but all that varies from state to state, I'm only familiar with Oregon.

Lying about being the spouse isn't a crime anywhere I know of. As far as notification, everyone is an adult and laws like that only apply to juveniles.

You can get a copy of the police report, departments generally charge a small copy fee. You can also try to contact the officer, but he is under no obligation to discuss the case with you (although he probably will).

I'm sorry for the loss of your sister. It always sucks, particularly in circumstances like this, but I can't see any criminal prosecution. It looks like she just made a lot of bad decisions, including picking this guy as a boy friend.

I'm sorry for your loss.


You can get a copy of the police report once the case is closed, which likely won't be until the report from the medical examiner is received.

I don't know where you obtained your information on what might have happened the night before. If, after you read the police report, you still have questions, you can ask to speak with the investigating officer and he/she may be able to help you.

Lying may be a crime, but it depends on your state's law. It's a crime down here to provide false information during certain investigations, but usually to charge someone with that they have to provide false statements that somehow effect the investigation. An example would be someone deliberately providing a false statement to get someone arrested or providing a false confession in order to protect the real offender. Whether or not he was her boyfriend or husband doesn't change how the officers are going to investigate her death, so I can't see him getting charged under that statute.

Some states also have statutes that prohibit false statements to obtain vital statistics, but you didn't say whether or not that happened. Most likely they wouldn't provide him with the death certificate unless he could show a marriage license. I doubt they'd take his word for it.

Regardless of the legality of his actions, what's your intent? Unfortunately you sister made the decision to end her own life. Maybe he could have helped her, but it sounds like a lot of people could have helped her as well. You may not think highly of him, but I'm sure he's going through his own pain as he must have cared for your sister too. Getting him charged with some minor offense isn't going to bring her back, nor is it going to get you anymore closure or real satisfaction.

I re-read this post several times. Something stinks:

1) the boyfriend and his brother lied and concealed evidence from police and the M.E.
Why?

2) They waited to call EMS.
Why?

3) They knew about her suicidal state of mind, did nothing.
Why?


references below

3) C.G.S. 53A-156 PERJURY

4) C.G.S. 19A-407 REPORT OF DEATHS

5) http://webtools.delmarlearning.com/sample_chapters/1418041130_ch08.pdf

6) Connecticutm, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-56 (a) A person is guilty of manslaughter 2......aids a suicide


If you have a private attorney probating or closing your sister's estate, that attorney needs to know. The Distrtict Attorney or State's Prosecutor needs to knoiw. Ask for an Inquest and b/f and brother can explain their actions / omissions under oath, penalty of perjury.

I re-read this post several times. Something stinks:

1) the boyfriend and his brother lied and concealed evidence from police and the M.E.
Why?

2) They waited to call EMS.
Why?

3) They knew about her suicidal state of mind, did nothing.
Why?


references below

3) C.G.S. 53A-156 PERJURY

4) C.G.S. 19A-407 REPORT OF DEATHS

5) http://webtools.delmarlearning.com/sample_chapters/1418041130_ch08.pdf

6) Connecticutm, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-56 (a) A person is guilty of manslaughter 2......aids a suicide


If you have a private attorney probating or closing your sister's estate, that attorney needs to know. The Distrtict Attorney or State's Prosecutor needs to knoiw. Ask for an Inquest and b/f and brother can explain their actions / omissions under oath, penalty of perjury.

I also am sorry for the OP's loss. But we as LEO's are not going to be able to give you "accurate" information or advise because of many things.

1)We are not the investigators who are involved in the case.

2)We are recieving at the very minumum 3rd hand/party inormation (he told you, your telling us)
and it will be the same issue when you speak to the investigator.

3)Laws differ state to state and county to
county etc.

I will say this, base on the information you provided and experience in death investigations. Families are ALWAYS left with questions. When someone passes regardless of if it is suicide or natural deaths the family always believes it could have been prevented. Sometimes they are right. You have legitamite questions, why did he call his brother first? It may have been in a panic and not thinking rational which would be easily explainable in court. If he knew or suspected she had taken pills and was suicidal then why did he let her go back to sleep? Maybe she "seemed" ok and did not think it was serious? What was her normal behaviour? Did she threaten suicide on a daily basis and he did not believe she was actually attempting it? Why were his meds accessed by her? What kind of meds were they.

There are some answers you may never know the truth about. Some only he can answer and some will remain unanswered.

Very rarely will someone not show signs of mental distress, depression etc. to family and friends prior ro taking their life.

As for her boyfriend claiming to be her husband, it actually happens frequently, and I have never seen anyone charged for false information in a case as described unless there is a motive why the claim is made (monetary gain etc.) Him simply claiming to be her husband will not affect the investigation into her death.

Again, failing to call 911 right away, would definately be a crime if the response of medical personell could have saved her life and by not calling harm continued to occurr.

I too have an issue with him not calling 911 and calling his brother, but it could be explained as "in a panic".

As stated above I would express your concerns with the investigator.

Also, every death is investigated as a homicide until the investiagtion is completed it will then be classified accordingly.

Again I am truly sorry for your loss.