Eastern Sierra News
Written by Tom Woods Thursday, 02 July 2009 14:12
On May 29th, staff at Death Valley National Park found the badly burned remains of a man in a wash about three miles north of the Wildrose Campground, about a half mile from where an unoccupied rental vehicle had been found on May 22. Inyo Detective Jeff Hollowell described the remains as “burned beyond recognition.”
Deputy Inyo Coroner Jeff Mullenhour has positively identified the body as that of 64-year-old Alexander Wong from Orange County. The cause of death was found to be a gunshot wound to the mouth. Whether this is a murder or suicide was not determined by the Coroner, who says that he made no determination as to mode or manner of death with the burned body.
The door remains open for investigators to find this death to be a homicide, but when we spoke to Death Valley National Park Spokesman Terry Baldino, he reported that the death may be a suicide and the burning an accident. Baldino says that it appeared the man was wrapped in a blanket with lit candles around him, possibly like a ceremony of sorts. If the man did indeed shoot himself, he could have rolled into contact with the candles.
Bookmark
Email this
Hits: 567
Comments
(3)
Subscribe to this comment's feed
...
written by Concerned , July 03, 2009
written by Concerned , July 03, 2009
I hope they come up with a better finding than "It could be suicide so therefore it is a suicide." This does nothing to ease the minds of locals who believe the police overuse the "suicide" label when investigating mysterious deaths.
Votes: +0
report abuse
vote down
vote up
...
written by Phil , July 03, 2009
written by Phil , July 03, 2009
written by Concerned, July 03, 2009
I hope they come up with a better finding than "It could be suicide so therefore it is a suicide." This does nothing to ease the minds of locals who believe the police overuse the "suicide" label when investigating mysterious deaths.
1.) You need to re-read and comprehend what was stated by someone who was NOT the coroner, nor a law enforcement official, and merely a, "Death Valley National Park Spokesman."
2.) The "Coroner" will investigate and determine the manner, mechanism, and cause of death.
3.) "...he reported that the death may be a suicide and the burning an accident." "may be... an accident... could...appeared..." That is why it is currently and remaining under investigation until determination.
4.) Very few homicides are committed with gunshot wounds via the mouth. However, that mode is very consistent with innumerable suicides.
5.) There are no "police" involved in the investigation.
The role of the Coroner is to determine the manner and mechanism of death, identify the remains, notify next of kin, and secure property of the decedent. If there is to be a criminal investigation through the result of these findings in this case, that would then be the role of law enforcement, not a Death Valley National Park "spokesman."
report abuse
vote down
vote up
...
written by Wayne Deja , July 04, 2009
written by Wayne Deja , July 04, 2009
Read in previous article reguarding suicide statistics in Inyo and Mono counties,stating the two counties average 3 to 4 suicides a year. After talking to a local doctor,he stated the first 6 months of this year,there has been over 3 times that amount so far,the first 6 months of this year,labeled suicides by "authorities"...so what "concerned"has written to comment,makes sense to me.
Votes: +1
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Regarding comments on this web site
- Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved.
- Comments on this site do not in any way reflect the views or opinions of the Sierra Wave.
- Please fill in the name field with your real name or initials. We have found that people who use their names carry on more engaging, respectful conversations.
