Story questions
OK. In lieu of actual content (work is busy, how DARE it), and at the request of some of you, here are some of the questions I need answered for my story. If you can help at all, that would be great. Otherwise, Jason’s mom has some connections I can ask, or I’ll call my local police department and see what they suggest.
1. If someone shoots themselves in the head, could the bullet go all the way through the skull? (I assume yes.)
2. Can someone who witnesses a suicide suffer such a shock that they could become temporarily mute? (I assume yes to this, as well.)
3. If so, how would the police deal with such a witness? If they concluded the death was actually a suicide, would they even need to interview them? (Assuming there are no other witnesses.)
4. Would that witness be referred to a therapist, and if so, how would a therapist treat them?
Thanks, guys!
I’m no expert, but…
1. I’m thinking it would depend on what kind of gun/bullet it was. And where it was positioned.
2. Probably depends on how they committed suicide. Shooting themselves in the head? I’d say definitely, yes.
3. Well, the police would probably need to talk to them to figure out that it was a suicide. AND, if there was a witness, it may be assumed that person was the killer. (i.e. They were there for the death–did they do it? Why didn’t/couldn’t they stop it?)
4. It would probably be treated like any post-traumatic stress disorder.
Comment by Amity — May 7, 2008 @ 12:51 pm
Ok – I hadn’t read yesterday’s post yet when I first opened this one up, and I was a bit confused. On track now. Sheesh.
I think it would be totally appropriate to walk into the police station and ask to speak with someone. You know you will have an open file at that point, right?
I would imagine that yes, someone could be struck mute from shock. Especially if they witnessed a suicide. Suicide is just…different.
Comment by Artemisia — May 7, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
i have no idea, but OMG I WANT TO READ YOUR STORY now.
Comment by Alice — May 7, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
Um, I HAVE NO IDEA. I assume all the same things you do. And that’s it. But wow I am excited for this story.
Comment by Jess — May 7, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
Don’t know about 1 and 2, but my husband witnessed a suicide (actually walked in on one of his employees who had just hanged himself) and he WAS interviewed by police even though there was a suicide note and the person had a history of suicidal tendencies. I guess the police just need to cover all their bases, standard procedure I would assume. He didn’t see a therapist afterwards (even though he probably should have) because he was kind of shell-shocked for quite a few months. We couldn’t watch certain types of movies or TV shows, that sort of thing.
I’m very interested in your story now! Want to read it!!
Comment by nonsoccermom — May 7, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
Unless it also made them paralyzed, couldn’t the mute person communicate in writing using a notepad or something?
Comment by My Buddy Mimi — May 7, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
1.) In some cases yes and in some cases no. The type of gun and the placement of said gun would likely be helpful to know in this case.
2.) I suppose but I have no concrete evidence of this…
3.) They would make them write it down on paper if they could not talk unless of course they were catatonic… then you have a whole other story.
4.) Again I assume yes. Perhaps with a OMG what is that called when they make you go to sleep sort of then ask you questions? You know with the watch going back and forth, etc… Sorry my pregnant brain is totally TOTALLY shot today!
Comment by Christina — May 7, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
True Story: A couple of years ago, in a cube just outside my office, one of my coworkers was talking to her ex-husband, and he shot himself while he was on the phone with her. Horrible. We had to have the police go to his apartment to check on him while we waited with the coworker. And then they called us back to tell us he had died.
Comment by Tessie — May 7, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
Yes
Yes
Yes
It would be handled as PTSD.
Comment by slynnro — May 7, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
#1 – Yes definitely, especially with say a .45 and especially if held directly against the head (or the ever popular in the mouth). It would be that “fabulous” small hole going in, half your skull missing on the way out kind of thing.
I have no idea about the rest of those though. Good luck. (Leave it me to only answer the one about a gun. I’m afraid after this comment I may have an “open file.”)
Comment by Gretchen — May 7, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
You guys are awesome! Thanks!
My Buddy Mimi, I had figured that’s how the person was going to communicate with friends and family, and then completely spaced that they could communicate that way with the cops as well. Duh.
Christina,
Hypnosis?
Tessie,
That is awful. Just awful.
Comment by Shauna — May 7, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
I am stuck on Tessie’s comment. That is horrifying.
If I were you I would contact a college and talk to someone in their criminology department . . .
Comment by Flibb — May 7, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
1. I’m with everyone who said depends on the kind of gun/bullet, also the trajectory of the bullet, although at that close a range, those issues MIGHT be moot. Do you NEED it to go through for the story? If so, use a large enough caliber pistol.
2. I’m not a psychologist/psychiatrist (but one of my readers is, if you want me to pose this question on my blog), but I would think yes.
3. It probably depends a lot on what they need to find out and who the witness is. I’m sure if the witness is a child, they would try to avoid making him/her relive the traumatic event.
4. Probably. There is an author I read whose main character is a psychologist who works for the police. I think the author has a website where you can contact him. Hold on while I check… yes he does. His name is Jonathan Kellerman. Here is the link to an email address. He claims to personally read and try to respond to every message, so maybe he’d be willing to help.
Please keep us updated on this. I’m really interested. I came up with an idea for a novel once, but you know, I’m too lazy to actually WRITE it.
Comment by JMC — May 7, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
Ooh! Questions to answer! On which I have no particular expertise but surprisingly strong opinions! Good times!
Selective mutism is definitely possible if the witness is a child. It seems less likely in an adult unless there was some pre-existing condition (anxiety disorder, e.g.) or after witnessing the event there were also other symptoms that went along with the mutism (a la PTSD). I don’t have any particular expertise in this, per se, but as a reader I’d question the plausibility of a previously totally healthy adult who remained totally high-functioning after the trauma except for being temporarily mute.
The police would definitely interview the witness, even if they concluded it was a suicide. If they thought the witness was really traumatized and unable to make a complete statement at the time, they might invite her to come to the station at a later time, or go to her house the next day to take the statement or something. The police officers doing the interviewing are unlikely to actually refer the witness to a therapist themselves, though.
Comment by pseudostoops — May 7, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
JMC,
I emailed him – thanks for the link! Now I have the total Nervous Tummy.
Comment by Shauna — May 7, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
Oh, boy! I’m excited! Let us know what he says. If he says anything. I hope he does!
Comment by JMC — May 7, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
At the hospital I worked in before going on medical leave there was a very talented doctor who worked at our regional Poison Control Center. He teaches the poison courses at the FBI Academy every year and is also a mushroom specialist. He told me once that mystery authors are always asking him for “poisons” for their novels. What he does is make up a real-sounding poison with side effects, etc., that does not actually exist. There are experts in all kinds of things if you look. Sometimes your State Police Forensic Lab people will help you with info, re caliber of bullet versus where gun was placed.
By the way, women rarely commit suicide by gun compared to men. They tend to be overdosers or hang themselves. I’m not sure where you can look these stats up, but a hospital library (most of which are open to the public) might get you pointed to the right place.
Response of child is just going to depend on so many variables. Glad you wrote Kellerman (whose wife Faye also writes mysteries). I believe he is a child psychologist in Real Life.
Just to be sure I’m the first to read it, I volunteer to proofread and edit it!
Comment by Pixelpi — May 7, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
I had a very good friend that witnessed her boyfriend’s suicide. She lived down the block from him, he called her to say goodbye, she ran down the block, to his basement just as he pulled the trigger. She was never the same. I wouldn’t say she was “mute” but she definitely wasn’t social anymore – with anyone.
The police had no reason to ask her any questions, it was clear cut, but she did tell them about the call from him just prior to.
Comment by cheri — May 8, 2008 @ 1:41 am