Chicago, IL–(ENEWSPF)–
Cook County Medical Examiner Nancy Jones said today there is "no evidence" indicating Chicago school board president Michael Scott’s death was anything but a suicide.
Making a rare public appearance to discuss an autopsy, Jones said Scott died of a single gunshot wound to the head that was fired at "contact-range," which is common in gunshot suicides.
She said the gun was "actually pressed against the head."
"Based on the findings at autopsy, which I have personally reviewed, including scene photographs and the autopsy photos, it was determined that Mr. Scott died of a single contact-range, through-and-through gunshot wound to his head."
Though Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis says his department is still investigating the death, Jones said two detectives present for the autopsy agreed with the suicide finding. She called the hours-long autopsy "a complete and full autopsy examination" conducted by a veteran pathologist, Dr. Mitra Kalelkar.
Speaking generally about the hundreds of gunshot suicides her office handles a year, Jones said "there’s no reason to come to a different conclusion when there is no evidence to lead you that way."
Two Chicago police detectives were present during the autopsy Monday. They both concurred with the suicide finding made by deputy medical examiner Dr. Mitra Kalelkar, a 30-year veteran of the office, Jones said.
The autopsy showed the single gunshot wound to Scott’s left temple. (Scott was left-handed.) It also showed probable post-mortem wounds to Scott’s chin that were likely suffered after his face-first fall into the Chicago River. And it showed swelling around Scott’s right eye, possibly from skull fractures, sources said.
There were no other wounds or marks on Scott’s body that would suggest he was bound or in a struggle. Toxicology tests were ordered, but results were not available yet, Jones said.
