Have you ever been to a murder?

   Type M For Murder, right? So let's talk about one, a real life experience that looked like a murder but that turned out to be a natural death. A DFO as they term it. Done Fell Over.

   This is a true story. 

   I was in a ride-along with an El Paso County Sheriff. I was taking the Sheriff's Citizens' Academy. We had presentations from K9, patrol, detectives, the jail, civil affairs, the 911 Center etc. And ride-alongs with an on-duty Deputy. If you are writing a story involving crime, the Police will be involved to some level. You can only benefit from learning, relatively painlessly, from your local PD or SD (police or sheriff's departments) over four to eight sessions. We shot electronic guns on the tactical simulator, very stressing. K9 was Very Impressive. You do not want to run from these dogs. All voting adults should take these courses.  I've been to CAs at five different organizations. 

   I met my Deputy at the substation and sat in the right seat as we patrolled his assigned area. We stopped a few people for burned out taillights and stoplights. It was also a way to casually find people with open warrants. People with warrants, often from missing court dates or parole officer appointments, might not be interested in their brake light bulbs. When the cops stop you for a traffic offense, they are checking you for open warrants.

   We met a sedan with four Japanese men in their sedan, totally lost, with no English skills. We got them back on the highway, north to Denver.

   Then we got a call to go to a residence. A neighbor reported the front door to a house was wide open. It was October, 6 pm, and there was snow on the ground. Doors should be closed. The split-level house was on a dead-end circle. The door was open, lights on upstairs and in the rear of the main floor. There was an old truck in the driveway. It still had snow on the hood, and there were no tire tracks in the snow. Obviously, it had not moved tonight. There were recent tire tracks in the snow on the other half of the driveway, barely up the driveway, shoe prints in the snow. I think a taxi or another car dropped someone off, or a visitor could have parked and the passenger got out. There were no return footprints.

   No one responded to shouts from the open door. A small dog was leashed in the kitchen next to a water bowl and an overflowing bowl of kibbles. The officer drew his weapon and flashlight and began to search the house, all relayed to his Sergeant via radio. The lower floor was dark. A room up was lit, so we went up. I stayed back.

   A large, overweight man lay crumpled halfway down the hallway, partially in the doorway to what looked like his TV room. His right arm was stretched into the room. In the middle of the floor was a 9mm Beretta pistol. TV and lamp next to the couch were on. No blood apparent, but the solid way he was lying on the floor may have trapped the bleeding from a chest wound. The Deputy tried to find a pulse. Nothing. He called it in and suggested it might be the end result of a gunfight or a suicide.

   In short, a detective and the coroner showed up. No wounds on the body. Many pills in the kitchen. The big man was unwell. We discovered he had been drinking, against Doctor's orders, and was driven home by a friend. We think he made a decision to end his life. He left the dog ample food and water, left the door open, but the dog was leashed. While he was preparing, his anxiety triggered heart failure and he died very quickly. DFO solved.

   I recommend a ride-along. Very educational. The details back up my Criminal Justice investigative classes with real experience. And the details work their way into my stories.