rationalskepticism.org

Weaver wrote:

Shrunk wrote:

mcgruff wrote:

Shrunk wrote:The suicides that have happened in my practice (fortunately few) have usually been people who showed "no indications of risk." For obvious reasons: If they showed indications of risk, I would have taken the appropriate actions to prevent it.

But what about this specific case? Can we say nothing at all?

It could be argued that the suicide was completely unconnected to her imprisonment. I mention that only because technically it is an option.

Alternatively confinement did drive her to suicide - and in a very short space of time. There has to be a process of some kind to take her from A to B and it has to be something which would not display itself in the phone call. What could that be? How often do people kill themselves after only a few days in jail when they know they will be getting out in just a few more?

Good questions. I don't know the answers, but they may exist. I was mainly responding to the suggestion that the fact that she showed no clear indications of suicide risk indicated that she was likely murdered.

The autopsy report notes multiple parallel healed incisions, approximately 3 months old, on one forearm - this is highly indicative of depressive / suicidal behaviors. I think it is much more likely than not that this was indeed a suicide, albeit a completely unnecessary one (not that any are ever necessary) due to false imprisonment and incompetent medical care after being found.