What is needed to investigate a death as murder?

Question

I have a family member who died a suspicious death-mostly there are rumors around town, and everyone who hears about it says it just doesn't sound right. What is actually needed to have police investigate it as a homicide? Who should I go to? This whole thing is surreal. Thanks for your input.

The story is that he "fell" down the cellar steps and was found an unknown time later. He landed on his right temple, and had no other injuries besides some scratches on his arm. He survived that, (this was in late summer) but since then had neurological problems, including unstoppable seizures. No home nurses were ever brought in-the person who "found" him provided all the care and he was hospitalized 3 times since. He was placed in a medically induced coma to try & stop the seizures, and then developed pneumonia and blood clots and passed away last week. No autopsy was performed, the deputy coroner was the funeral director, but is also a friend of the one who found him (his wife). The deceased claimed to not remember how he fell or even how he got to the bottom of the stairs. Does this sound suspicious to anyone else? Oh, and the widow didn't shed a tear at the viewing or funeral.

Answer 1

Every death has to be explained by a doctor if they been in care of the deceased for 48 hours prior of the death or a medical examiner.

If you have a suspicion of their death bring it to their attention.

Answer 2

It depends on how the police originally investigated it.

If it was filed as "suspicious death" or such, then it may still be open, just "cold case", until some new leads turn up. If it was already closed under "suicide" or whatever, then you'll need to provide some fresh leads or contradictory info that can be verified to get the case re-opened.

I think one easy way is to provide reward money, say, start with $5000, and get it publicized in a newspaper or TV news. That should generate some new interest in the case.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: while possibly suspicious, that alone is not enough to indicate foul play. Unless you can prove the wife has something serious to gain (i.e. the good old "means, motive, and opportunity" angles) AND would NEED to do so, it'd be hard to reopen such a case.

Answer 3

Every death must be reviewed by a medical doctor, or the coroner, who will determine cause of death (autopsy).
If the cause of death is murder, then an investigation will be conducted. This includes (obviously) shot, stabbed, blunt force trauma, etc. OR (less obviously) suffication, drowing, poisoning

Answer 4

Go to the FBI. Im sure they will investigate the death of your family member(RIP). They will and should investigate the Local Law enforcement there. The good thing is that there is no time on when a Murder can be ivestigated. Good luck and I hope you and your family get the proper justice.