ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, USA – JANUARY, 2004 When the young woman arrived home from work, she smelled a smell that reminded her of gunpowder. When she entered the kitchen, she saw her dead brother with his head shattered. In shock, she fled to a neighbor’s house, where she called 911.
Detectives assumed it was a gunshot wound. But they were confused because they found no weapon at the scene. So the case was investigated as a homicide in the first few moments.
But on closer inspection of the scene, pieces of red paper were found that smelled of sulphur. No bullet was found, and forensic experts ruled out the possibility of a shooting at the scene based on blood traces.
When traces of incendiary cord, which is used in pyrotechnic devices, were found, it was clear to everyone what had happened at the scene. The man had used surplus pyrotechnics from a recent New Year’s Eve to commit suicide. He probably put a powerful firecracker in his mouth and detonated it there.
The victim was 29 years old, weighed 236 pounds and measured 74 inches (107 kilograms and 188 centimeters). His sister said he was a teacher but had recently suffered severe depression due to marital problems. This was probably his motive for leaving this world. Six months before his death, he had even attempted suicide once and was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. During his stay there, his wife became pregnant by another man. The day after he was released, he found out and killed himself.
If you’re thinking about suicide, please stop and recognize that your pain is not permanent, but this step would be. It may feel like there’s no other way, but there is hope, even if it’s hard to see right now. Your feelings are temporary, and with help, they can pass.
Talking about what you're going through might feel difficult, but it’s the first step toward healing. Don’t turn away from the people who want to support you. Life can offer more than what you're feeling right now, and the pain doesn't have to last forever. You deserve help, and it’s available.
If you need immediate help, please contact a helpline.
