Ok....morbid question...how do I find a report on a suicide?

[Fountain79]

A coworker of mine ended his life and the details given to me were few. Part of me wants to know if there was a reason why left behind.

[datasuspect]

1. what is the public records paper trail for deaths?

i suppose you could talk to very close family members and friends.

[Chan790]

2. Not easy...

it's one of the few areas where there is nearly-universal agreement to not disclose information, beyond the minimal amount required, between law enforcement, media, public offices (town records, coroner, etc.).

I learned this because I was trying to obtain records after my neighbor committed murder/suicide. One of my friends is the news editor for a local network affiliate and even she can't get information.

Not morbid curiosity...the suicide victim supposedly had lived in the house for her entire life with her father (the murder victim); one member of my family or another has lived next-door for that entire time. Nobody has any recollection of this woman living/growing-up there at all. Thus, there is some concerns on my part (and my family) that she was being abused/hidden in the basement/held captive. If there is something strange going on, I'd like to know because the surviving family members live in the house still...if there was a crime possibly being committed I'd like it investigated and I'd like to know if perhaps I should be concerned as they seem to show abnormal interest when family/friends with children visit.

No dice...the police want it to go away, this sort of thing doesn't happen here and the sooner people stop paying attention/talking about it the sooner the community can pretend it didn't happen.

[Connonym]

3. that's creepy

I don't blame you for wanting more details.

[Lex]

4. If there was a police report done for some reason

then that's probably public record and you can get a copy by requesting a copy from the PD.

The death cert. will just have basic info. so probably not useful.