[Marylander]

Johnson's parents also say that the ceiling pipe that the fraternity brother found Johnson hanging from was far too low to have allowed him to hang himself to death. The autopsy report states that "officers measured approximately 70 inches from the floor of the bottom of the water pipe." Johnson's driver's license stated that he was 6-foot-2.

?

[Dacula]

Speculation. Johnson’s parents also say...

I think you are reading too much in to it. Unfortunately last week a boy in my son’s grade killed himself. Just as many questions there as well.

I detest the blanket Racist tactic.

[Hyzenthlay]

So, to answer your ‘?’ and throw in my $0.02, here’s what I think may have happened/contributed to the situation.

From what I remember of taking forensic pathology, there are several factors that may contribute to an apparent lack of ligature marks on a hanging/strangulation victim. First of all, it only takes 5-8 psi to close off the carotid artery, resulting in asphyxiation. If the ligature is not made of an abrasive material, or is not very narrow, this may not cause enough pressure to form ligature marks. Second of all, due to the low pressure required, this does not require a hanging victim to be completely suspended - the weight of a human head leaning to one side is usually enough to to the trick. So, it’s not uncommon to find people who’ve hung themselves from doorknobs or curtain rods or other similar things. Third, hanging is exceedingly rare as a form of ‘homicide’ - in countries where hanging is not a form of execution, almost 100% of hanging cases that occur are either a suicide, or a result of an accident (usually during autoerotic asphyxiation). And, last but not least, and unfortunately this might need a “I’m not being racist” tag, but marks such as bruises, ligature marks, livor mortis, etc. are more difficult to see on darker skin. Between that and the preparations made for burial and viewing at the funeral home, it’s entirely possible that the ligature marks are indeed there (and would be visible if one was to cut into the skin) but the parents simply could not see them.

And, only about 20-30% of suicides have notes associated, although there are (obviously) no statistics on how often those notes are faked to cover up a murder, or how often family or friends remove a note prior to calling the authorities. So, while it’s suspicious that an otherwise happy kid would kill himself with no explanation, it does happen sometimes, and there’s nothing implausible about it being a suicide with all the details the medical examiner’s office and investigators gave.