My uncle committed suicide - how?
My uncle committed suicide in 1997 in his lab while working on his PhD in endocrinology. I am mentioned specifically in his suicide note as one of his last reasons to stay alive. Mental health issues run in our family, but he was not diagnosed before he died. My family doesn't like to talk about his death, but, especially now that his mother, my grandmother, has Alzheimer's disease and is forgetting major life events, I think it's important that I understand what happened. I was only 2 when he died, but his suicide has always haunted me. Partially because we didn't ever really talk about it. Partially because of my own mental health issues and multiple suicide attempts (I'm doing much better now). Partially because everyone has always told me how much I remind them of him and how well we would have gotten along.
I know I'll never know the why, but I'd like to at least know the how.
I've requested both the police report and the autopsy report.
To meet rule criteria: He was a 33 year old white male, 70 inches, approx 150lbs. He did not smoke. Unknown (but unlikely) alcohol and recreational drug use. Possibly on a medication for a urinary tract infection at the time of death, but details unknown. No previous mental health diagnosis or any other health conditions.
He was found lying on the floor of his lab, dead when law enforcement and EMS arrived. 4 suicide letters were found in the room, and an empty syringe was lying next to him.
The police report reads "...checked for a pulse. There was none. Post mortem levity was noted on the left elbow and on the left side of the victim's lower head and face. The victim was laying on his back with his head pointed south."
The autopsy report states "There is a single needle puncture in the left elbow region. No other recent injuries are seen. The lividity is well established on the posterior dependent surfaces and has a lighter pink appearance than usual. The oral cavity is free of trauma or obstruction. The scalp, calvarium, and skull base are intact. The brain weight is 1595g. The dura and leptomeninges are unremarkable. The cerebral hemispheres are symmetrical and have normal gyral configurations. The arteries of the circle of Willis are free of notable congenital anomaly or atheromatous deposit. There is no evidence of asymmetric displacement of brain structures. Multiple cuts through brain and upper cervical spinal cord reveal no other abnormalities. The neck organ block is free of trauma or obstruction. Thyroid has symmetrical lobes of normal size. The heart weight is 325g. The epicardial surface is smooth and glistening. The coronary arteries are normally distributed and widely patent. The myocardium is homogenous red-brown and has a normal firm consistency. The cardiac chambers are filled with clotted and unclotted blood. Valves and endocardial surfaces are unremarkable. The aorta is minimally sclerotic throughout its length and vessels originating therefrom are widely patent. The right and left lungs weigh 840g and 795g respectively. Pulmonary arteries are free of antemortem clot. The lung substance is uniformly and moderately increased firmness and decreased in crepitance. The tracheobronchial tree contains pink-tinged froth. The sectioned lung surfaces ooze dark red blood. No antemortem diseases or injuries are identified in either lung. The esophagus is intact and unremarkable. The stomach contains a light coating of gray-pink fluid. No intact capsules, tablets, or crystalline residue are identified in stomach or proximal small bowel. The vermiform appendix is present. The large bowel is unremarkable. The liver weighs 1510g. The capsular surface is smooth and glistening, sectioned surface is uniform red-brown and dark blood oozes from sectioned surfaces. The hepatic parenchyma is slightly softer than usual. The gallbladder contains several ml. of golden-brown bile. The extrahepatic biliary tree is patent. The pancreas is autolyzed but otherwise unremarkable. The spleen weighs 220g. The capsular surface is wrinkled and gray, sectioned surface is dark red-purple. The right and left adrenal glands are unremarkable. The right and left kidneys have a combined weight of 275g. The cortical surfaces are smooth. The cortices and medullae have normal thicknesses and are clearly demarcated. The renal vessels, pelvocalyceal systems, and ureters are unremarkable. The urinary bladder contains about 2 oz. of straw colored urine. The internal genitalia are normal male. The musculoskeletal system is intact."
"Autopsy findings:
- Needle puncture in left elbow region.
- Pulmonary congestion and edema.
Probable cause of death: Suicidal injection of unknown toxin."
The toxicology report is below:
"Volatiles (blood): negative
Volatiles (urine): negative
Comprehensive drug screen (blood): negative
Comprehensive drug screen (urine): negative
Comprehensive drug screen (syringe wash): negative
Vitreous Chemistry
Glucose: 0mg/dL [normal range: 70-100mg/dL]
Urea Nitrogen: 17mg/dL [normal range: 6-24mg/dL]
Creatinine: 0.8mg/dL [normal range: 0.6-1.5mg/dL]
Sodium: 144meq/L [normal range: 135-148 meq/L]
Potassium: 17.7meq/L [normal range: 3.5-5.3meq/L]
Chloride: 120meq/L [normal range: 96-110 meq/L
HIV Antibody: Non-reactive"
No one doubts that it was suicide. The police report and interviews explore a few possible reasons for why, but I know that I will never have a real answer to that, and that I'll just drive myself to madness wondering.
Reading over the autopsy, my guess would be that he injected potassium in order to stop his heart. Does that fit with the results? If not, what else might have been the "unknown toxin" in the syringe? Do the findings fit that conclusion? Is there anything else noteworthy in the autopsy findings?
Based on this, do we have any idea how long he might have been dead when he was found? How long would it have taken for him to die? Would he have been in pain?
Is there anything else that you can tell from this?