I believe that what you're saying is my point, exactly!
When a detective/police dept. comes onto a crime scene, where a death is involved, the death is treated as a homicide, until PROVEN otherwise!
In the case of my son's death, the police did not investigate, did not ask me, the mother, if perhaps Joshua may have been depressed, on prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or possibly made any suicidal gestures. The detective only asked me what time he left our home, which was 10:49PM, not 12:00, as in his statement.
From an Internet search, an autopsy is determined by not only the 'look-see', but also by the investigative work. No investigation, no investigative findings.
I taught myself basic forensics, such as manner and cause of death, time of death, rigor/livor mortis, cadaveric spasm, digestion processes related to time of death, medical terminology to understand the autopsy report.
I also know, per the rigor/livor mortis, that Josh had to have died shortly after being seen in the park by a patrol officer.
Regardless, it is vital to the investigation, of who the last person to see the victim alive IS! And the actions or non-actions of the McGregor PD is what made me suspicious in the first place. For example:
I asked the former Interim Chief, the former Chief, Ron Wadkins, and the current chief, which officer, out of two on duty, had seen Joshua. I still don't have that question answered.
I spoke with the former Interim Chief, Chris Molina, on Feb. 22, only 6 days after Josh's death. I asked him how the investigation was progressing, and he told me, "We don't begin an investigation until something suspicious is found." I told him the whole thing is suspicious because my son would not kill himself. He then said, "There are no footprints in the gravel." I asked, "How would you know if 5-6 kids were playing there?" He said, "It would take two people to get him up there." [At this time, I had no idea of how he died.] Out of the blue, he said, "At ten after one, there was nobody in the park." I thought this odd, and when I checked the dispatch logs, I discovered that Molina was NOT on duty nor was there mention of a 'park check' @ 1:10AM!
