How do I go about doing this?

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:16 pm

I need help looking for newspaper clippings or police records or SOMETHING! My brother passed away but in the state he passed away in they're calling it suicide and we don't even have a clue as to what exactly happened, we know he was trying to come home but I cant find anything on search engines about his death. I tried searching his name, I tried searching the city and everything and I cant find anything. It's been 5 years, I want answers. If you can help GREAT if not than point me to the direction I can go! Im desperate.

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:17 am

Hi Still_Looking_4_Jace. Other members may give you a better answer. But in short, you should be able to obtain Medical Examiner, autopsy,police reports ect, from the local source. If the local authority declared it to be suicide, it is likely any news article would simply state what was reported and an obituary would not state cause of death. You may want to include more details without identifying information for more specific information.
Without obvious trauma and circumstances most male deaths are chalked up to be accidents or suicides, only about 64% of homicides are solved. I'm not trying to discourage you, this is just what I have found to be true.

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:26 pm

I would start with checking the county records where he passed away by looking at the death certificates. Some death certificates will have the cause of death.

If you tell us the city and state of where he died, might be able to get you started in the right direction.

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:43 am

He died either in Kent, WA or Renton, WA in 2004. We have the death certificate and his ashes. The thing is I cannot find anything on a suicide or accidental death. We could not find anything from the clothes we got back of his cause of death. We were told all of his bones were broken and yet the only things that were remotely ruined were of what was cut off of him by paramedics. I have been confused for 5 years now. I have googled every variation of his name and both cities, or the cities and year with suicide or accidental death NOTHING has popped up. My family lives in another state than the one he died in so its very difficult for me to even begin to know who investigated this. His last name is different from ours cause we adopted him when he was 17. He died at 22. So any hope of calling someone there is in my opinion slim to none. I have felt helpless since the day he died cause i wasnt even in the same city as the rest of my family when they found out. He was supposed to be finding a way home to us just 6 hours before i got the phone call. I dont think this was suicide and I am desperate to know what happened.

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 1:43 pm

Have you tried contacting the local police departments to see if there was a police report?

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:32 pm

I concur with Ratman, you need to contact local law enforcement Jurisdictions in Kent and Renton, WA.

As both cities are in Kings County. You should also contact:
King County Medical Examiner's Office
Located at:
908 Jefferson Street in Seattle, Washington
Mailing address:
325 - 9th Ave., Box 359792
Seattle, Washington 98104-2499
Telephone: 206-731-3232
Fax: 206-731-8555

The death certificate should have sufficient information to begin your investigation. When dealing with Government agencies in these types of matters besides knowing where to contact it may help expedite your quest and cut to the chase if you have someone familiar with the system who talks the talk contact on your behalf.

Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:57 am

I called the medical examiner. they really were no help. okay they were to me but i found out my family new about it and didnt tell me. The event happened in renton but he died in seattle at the hospital and the examiner still sais suicide, i think they only say that cause he was in a psychiatric facility so they just assumed. anyway 7 story building. and he never recovered. its put me at ease a little but not really. trying to figure out why he would tell us hes coming home if he was gonna off himself. i still dont get it.

Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:42 pm

RATMAN wrote:

Have you tried contacting the local police departments to see if there was a police report?

Renton Police Department
1055 S Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057-3232
(425) 430-7500

rentonwa.gov

Police Department:
http://rentonwa.gov/government/default.aspx?id=1688

Email the Chief online contact form:
http://rentonwa.gov/staff_popup.aspx?id=4782
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Site for Seattle Police,
http://www.seattle.gov/police/contact/location/HQ.htm

Seattle Police online contact form:
https://www.seattle.gov/police/contact_form.htm

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:49 pm

come on I got to go!
PERHAPS IT'S THAT IRONY AGAIN!
WATCHMAN ISN'T THAT A TRIP

"THE PARAMEDICS CUT OFF ALL HIS CLOTHES"
"RUN FORMS" ARE LEGAL DOCUMENTS!'
"FIND OUT WHAT EMS SERVICE IS THE PRIMARY RESPONDER
OUT THERE IT IS USUALLY THE F.D.
ALL HIS BONES BROKEN "POOR TORTURED SOUL THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I!"

SOUNDS LIKE HE JUMPED OF SOME THING REAL HIGH !

LANDING ON SOMETHING REALLY HARD!

COULD OF ALSO FLOPED ON THE HIGH WAY IN FRONT OF A 18 WHEELER

BUT YES DEAR IF FIRE PROVIDES BASIC OR ADVANCED EMT SERVICE THEY WILL HAVE AN
INITIAL ONE BUT THE E.M.S. /AMBULANCE SERVICE WOULD HAVE MORE
WILL ALL BE IN THE REPORT!

THE DISPATCH CENTER KEEPS RECORDS OF ALL RUNS
CALL/CASE#

/CALL TIME IN
*LOCATION

** INCIDENT TYPECALL /COMPLAINT FALL?,FIGHT?,?JUMPED,? TIME DISPATCHED TIME UNIT IN ROUTE

MANY TIMES WHEN A PERSON HAS MADE A DECISION TO DO IT!

THEY ACTUAL GET HAPPY BUT NOT MICHAL JACKSON JUMP ON A CAR HAPPY BUT LIKE NOT SO DEEPLY DEPRESSED THE WILL SEEM MORE "POSITIVE"AND CALL PEOPLE THEY DID NOT CALL FINISH UNFINISHED STUFF AND GO AROUND LIKE IN A VALIUM HIGH (I DON'T GET THE VALIUM THING I THINK YOU HAVE TO DRINK WITH BUT I DON'T DRINK.....ANOTHER STORY I AM BEING SILLY ! TRY TO MAKE U LAUGH!
BUT I AM SERIOUS ABOUT MY FORENSIC INTELLIGENCE!
IF HE WAS IN A PSYCH INSTITUTION YOU HAVE GOT A GOOD LAWSUIT! GET BACK TO US!
POOR KID!

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:06 pm

Wouldn't Central Dispatch have the records of the run in this case?

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:56 pm

Still_Looking_4_Jace wrote:

I called the medical examiner. they really were no help. okay they were to me but i found out my family new about it and didnt tell me. The event happened in renton but he died in seattle at the hospital and the examiner still sais suicide, i think they only say that cause he was in a psychiatric facility so they just assumed. anyway 7 story building. and he never recovered. its put me at ease a little but not really. trying to figure out why he would tell us hes coming home if he was gonna off himself. i still dont get it.

Perhaps you did not ask the right questions, this is the Coroners duties & responsibilities.

The Coroner is responsible for investigation of the circumstances surrounding deaths which come under the jurisdiction of the Coroner's Office: all homicides, suicides, accidents, traffic fatalities, suspicious, unexpected, unexplained, or medically unattended natural deaths, the death of children under the age of 16 years, as well as the deaths of indigent or unclaimed citizens. Provision of initial emotional and psychological support to individual and family members at the scene of a death investigation or upon notification of a death.
The Coroner operates with a twenty-four hour/seven-days a week responsibility. Receives notification of deaths from a wide range of resources, and determines whether a death is within the jurisdiction of the Coroner's Office. Conducts on-site investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding a death, including time and probable cause of death. Interviews, observes, and assesses first responders, and physicians, witnesses, survivors, and family members to obtain relevant medical history, chain of events or circumstances prior to the death. Handles and examines human remains to determine initial findings regarding cause and manner of death. Examines, documents, and collects personal effects for identification and evidence of decedent's lifestyle choices, psychological mindset, level of self-care, and information regarding next-of-kin. Gathers and transports human remains, personal effects, and evidence to the Lewis County Coroner's Office. Locates next-of-kin and makes in-person notification of the death. Writes complete and comprehensive investigative reports, as well as creating other documentation to justify determination of cause and manner of death.

Let us know what you find out from the police departments. Remember when seeking information from a govt. agency be civil and respective as you persistently work your way up the chain of command until you get answers.

If you uncover negligence of some sort and contemplate litigation keep in mind it's been 5 years. Check this site for statute of limitations http://www.expertlaw.com/library/limitations_by_state/Washington.html

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:10 pm

RATMAN wrote:

Wouldn't Central Dispatch have the records of the run in this case?

Still_Looking_4_Jace needs to inquire as to the agency's record retention protocol.

This site should contain information to point Still_looking in the right direction.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/archives/Frequent.aspx

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:30 am

Sorry I havent gotten back to yall. I havent had a chance to check this. I havent called the police departent yet but when my real brother told me he talked to everyone I felt I was going to get the same answer if I called. It's hard to open old wounds and I dont want to piss off my family but i still need answers and if they find out I'm looking I might be getting myself disowned or iccommunicado to the rest of my family. I have hope that i will find the answers im looking for. Thanks everyone.

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:49 pm

watchman wrote:

When dealing with Government agencies in these types of matters besides knowing where to contact it may help expedite your quest and cut to the chase if you have someone familiar with the system who talks the talk contact on your behalf.

You most likely will get the same answers as your brother; unless you ask the right questions to the right people. These types of telephonic investigations can be like going through a maze and working a jigsaw puzzle simultaneously. Perhaps you should seriously consider paying someone familiar with the system make the calls for you. I would find someone with an appropriate background and negotiate a fee for their billable time and pay cost for any documents secured.

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:34 am

I dont really have the money to hire someone. I feel hopeless. I wonder if I will ever find the answers. I emailed the police chief in renton and havent got a reply back. It's 430 pm here so its 530 there and i doubt anyone would be in the office if i called. I just wish i could know what exactly happened that day.