From the article linked to in the opening post:
Instead, it took considerably more investigation to rule out homicide. Investigators even analyzed the writing on Sparkman's chest to see how the letters were applied and determine whether he wrote on himself or someone else wrote on him.
Forensic tests showed that the letters were applied from the bottom to the top — not the way an assailant facing Sparkman would write them. Police concluded that Sparkman wrote on himself, Rudzinski said.
Authorities cited a number of reasons supporting the conclusion that Sparkman killed himself.
For instance, there was no evidence that Sparkman had struggled with anyone. There were no defensive wounds on his body and no trauma such as a blow to the head, authorities said.
Tests ruled out any theory that he was drugged and unconscious when he was tied to the tree, making the lack of signs of a struggle more significant.
Sparkman's glasses were taped to his head with duct tape. The question that raises is why a killer would care whether Sparkman, who had poor vision, could see what was going on.
Police say Sparkman taped the glasses to his head to make sure he could see as he prepared to kill himself, Rudzinski said.
Also, Sparkman was not dangling from the tree the way people commonly perceive hanging.
His legs were bent at the knees and his knees were less than six inches off the ground, authorities said.
The rope was thrown over a limb and tied off to another tree. Sparkman leaned forward, which would have put the weight of his body on his neck and caused him to lose consciousness, authorities said.
Sparkman's hands were bound by duct tape, but loosely, allowing him to move them shoulder-width apart, Rolf said.
The significance of that is that Sparkman, acting alone, could have created all the conditions found at the scene, Rudzinski said.
"We do not believe he was placed in that position" by someone else, Rudzinski said.
The final piece of evidence police wanted in order to reach a conclusion in the case were the results of DNA testing. The results, received last week, showed there was no DNA other than Sparkman's on the rope, the rag in his mouth or a similar rag found near his body.
Instead, it took considerably more investigation to rule out homicide. Investigators even analyzed the writing on Sparkman's chest to see how the letters were applied and determine whether he wrote on himself or someone else wrote on him.
Forensic tests showed that the letters were applied from the bottom to the top — not the way an assailant facing Sparkman would write them. Police concluded that Sparkman wrote on himself, Rudzinski said.
Authorities cited a number of reasons supporting the conclusion that Sparkman killed himself.
For instance, there was no evidence that Sparkman had struggled with anyone. There were no defensive wounds on his body and no trauma such as a blow to the head, authorities said.
Tests ruled out any theory that he was drugged and unconscious when he was tied to the tree, making the lack of signs of a struggle more significant.
Sparkman's glasses were taped to his head with duct tape. The question that raises is why a killer would care whether Sparkman, who had poor vision, could see what was going on.
Police say Sparkman taped the glasses to his head to make sure he could see as he prepared to kill himself, Rudzinski said.
Also, Sparkman was not dangling from the tree the way people commonly perceive hanging.
His legs were bent at the knees and his knees were less than six inches off the ground, authorities said.
The rope was thrown over a limb and tied off to another tree. Sparkman leaned forward, which would have put the weight of his body on his neck and caused him to lose consciousness, authorities said.
Sparkman's hands were bound by duct tape, but loosely, allowing him to move them shoulder-width apart, Rolf said.
The significance of that is that Sparkman, acting alone, could have created all the conditions found at the scene, Rudzinski said.
"We do not believe he was placed in that position" by someone else, Rudzinski said.
The final piece of evidence police wanted in order to reach a conclusion in the case were the results of DNA testing. The results, received last week, showed there was no DNA other than Sparkman's on the rope, the rag in his mouth or a similar rag found near his body.
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