Psychological Autopsies
Charles Feer, JD, MPA
Department of Criminology
Division of Behavior Science
Bakersfield College
Psychological Autopsies
“Equivocal Death Analyses” (EDA)
Clinically - Psychological Autopsies has
implications for the treatment of survivors.
They are useful in homicide investigations; as
well as alleged Suicide by Cop incidents; and
in Autoerotic Deaths.
Requested when the deceased apparently
committed suicide but there is a possibility
of foul play; or, deceased appears to be a
victim of a homicide, but there is a
possibility of suicide.
Psychological Autopsies
“Equivocal Death Analyses”
Is a reconstructive process designed to
identify and evaluate the behavior,
thoughts, moods, and events that led
up to and may have contributed to a
person’s death.
Psychological Autopsies
Information gathered is from thirdparty sources: Interviews of significant
others, family, friends, co-workers,
supervisors, teachers, acquaintances,
health-care providers.
Records: Work, School, Medical,
Letters, Diaries, emails, social media
postings, websites visited,
downloaded material.
Psychological Autopsies
Looking for information relating to
possible history of depression (or
other psychiatric difficulties) previous
suicide attempts, history of physical or
sexual abuse.
Review: Police reports, Coroner’s
report, Toxicology reports, C.S.I.
reports and photos.
Alcohol / Drug use, emotional
changes. (Pharmacy printouts.)
Psychological Autopsies
Emphasis is to examine the deceased
activities 24, 48 and 72 hours prior to
death.
“Pre-death” behaviors: Paying up Life
Insurance Policies? Giving away
Possessions? Making arrangements
for family and pets?
Examine Bank Statements.
Psychological Autopsies
Visit the decedent’s home and place
of work. (People spend the most
amount of their daily lives in personal
living and work environments.)
Examine “Identity Claims” - “This is
who I am.” (Family photos,
keepsakes, music, books.)
“Behavioral Residue” – physical
traces left in the living space by our
everyday actions; (Organization, Trash, )
Psychological Autopsies
Examine the location where the death
took place. Rescuability? (Evidence
that victim took precautions against
being rescued.) Evidence of planning,
rehearsal of the incident.
Suicide
When an unexpected suicide occurs, and
no suicide note is left, foul play might be
anticipated.
About one-third of individuals leave a
suicide note.
Authenticity? Look to content, length of
note and sentence fragments.
Typically there will be instructions to
survivors, terms of endearment (“love”
“dear” sweetheart”).
Positive emotions with a backdrop of
despair.
Suicide by Cop
Victim uses police to achieve their own
death. They “force” police to kill them.
Refused to drop weapon, approached in
threatening manner.
Estimated 10 – 13% (one estimate says
25%) of all police deadly force cases are
SbC. (L.A.S.D. 1987-1997 found 11% of
OIS were deemed SbC)
18 – 54 years old; 98% were male; 50%
armed with guns, 17% had replica guns.
Many had history of mental disorders.
Majority were U.I. of hard drugs/alcohol.
Psychological Autopsies
E.D.A.s are disallowed in court as
evidence. (They currently do not meet
the criteria for “scientific evidence.”)
One “Expert’s opinion often differs
from another expert’s opinion.
There is no “standard” on how to
conduct an E.D.A., there are no
standards for training or quality
assurance.
(Lack of consistency creates a lack of
reliability.)