Mysterious Death Ruled a Suicide. But Was It?
A Lakeville, Minnesota man's vehicle suddenly accelerates, drives erratically over a berm and curbs, and crashes into a grocery store 450 feet away, leaving him with fatal head injuries.
The initial investigation finds no mechanical malfunction with the vehicle, no seizures or medical problems with the man, and no obvious indication of accidental death. Officials determined the death was intentional; effecting the family's death insurance benefits and closure in the matter.
Too many pieces of this puzzle didn't make sense to the family, the medical examiner, police, and family friend, Art Kosieradzki, who happens to be a lawyer.
Meanwhile, the family was being ridiculed and rumors swirled around town. Since the man and his wife were going through a divorce at the time, she was accused of sabotaging the vehicle, and the kids were teased at school. But she insisted the split was amicable and that her husband would have never committed suicide.
Family friend and lawyer Art Kosieradzki said, "I was in shock actually. I couldn't believe it. Who goes to a Taco Bell to kill themselves? It just didn't make any sense whatsoever to me."
To dispel the rumors, the family asked Kosieradzki and hisfirm, Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey to take the case. While examining the police photos, Teri Tarver, Kosieradski's legal assistant, noticed a five dollar bill on the floor of the vehicle. A clue that later turns crucial to cracking this case.
Engineering experts determined the vehicle was going about 27 miles per hour when it hit the grocery store. Not fast enough to kill a man wearing a seat belt and protected by an airbag.
Bringing the five dollar bill back into the equation, they tested the theory, "What if he had intended to use that five dollars to pay for his food, dropped it, and reached down to pick it up?"
Turns out, that is exactly what happened.
Through engineering tests, they determined that when he reached down to pick up the money, his foot pressed on the accelerator and when his vehicle hit the berm, the airbag deployed while his head was right next to the steering wheel. The impact left him unconscious, and his foot was still on the accelerator, speeding him toward the wall.
The new evidence convinced the medical examiner to rule the case an ' accidental death ' allowing the insurance company to pay the family the full policy benefits, and the family to clear their name.
Whether or not this story has a happy ending depends on your perspective. But it serves as a good reminder that things aren't always what they seem and having a good team of investigators on your side can change your life.
Watch the local news coverage of this story here. ( http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/In-Depth-Drive-Thru-Mystery-nov-17-2009 )
The initial investigation finds no mechanical malfunction with the vehicle, no seizures or medical problems with the man, and no obvious indication of accidental death. Officials determined the death was intentional; effecting the family's death insurance benefits and closure in the matter.
Too many pieces of this puzzle didn't make sense to the family, the medical examiner, police, and family friend, Art Kosieradzki, who happens to be a lawyer.
Meanwhile, the family was being ridiculed and rumors swirled around town. Since the man and his wife were going through a divorce at the time, she was accused of sabotaging the vehicle, and the kids were teased at school. But she insisted the split was amicable and that her husband would have never committed suicide.
Family friend and lawyer Art Kosieradzki said, "I was in shock actually. I couldn't believe it. Who goes to a Taco Bell to kill themselves? It just didn't make any sense whatsoever to me."
To dispel the rumors, the family asked Kosieradzki and hisfirm, Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey to take the case. While examining the police photos, Teri Tarver, Kosieradski's legal assistant, noticed a five dollar bill on the floor of the vehicle. A clue that later turns crucial to cracking this case.
Engineering experts determined the vehicle was going about 27 miles per hour when it hit the grocery store. Not fast enough to kill a man wearing a seat belt and protected by an airbag.
Bringing the five dollar bill back into the equation, they tested the theory, "What if he had intended to use that five dollars to pay for his food, dropped it, and reached down to pick it up?"
Turns out, that is exactly what happened.
Through engineering tests, they determined that when he reached down to pick up the money, his foot pressed on the accelerator and when his vehicle hit the berm, the airbag deployed while his head was right next to the steering wheel. The impact left him unconscious, and his foot was still on the accelerator, speeding him toward the wall.
The new evidence convinced the medical examiner to rule the case an ' accidental death ' allowing the insurance company to pay the family the full policy benefits, and the family to clear their name.
Whether or not this story has a happy ending depends on your perspective. But it serves as a good reminder that things aren't always what they seem and having a good team of investigators on your side can change your life.
Watch the local news coverage of this story here. ( http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/In-Depth-Drive-Thru-Mystery-nov-17-2009 )
Source...