Suicide aboard - Dominica

[Shrew]

Hanging oneself inside of the vessel would be very difficult. Human nature will likely force you to simply stand up after certain point of time. That is why people jump from a height (e.g. tree, chandelier), or kick out a chair.

However, If I were responsible for a municipality which had a large amount of income coming from tourism, I would much rather have a foreign cruiser found dead by suicide than murder. Conveniently, it would be the local police that would make that call.

Suicides don't trigger travel advisories.

[skipperpete]

in two incidents of suicide encountered aboard yachts in my cruising experience, hanging was the method of choice. In the first incident a yacht was towed by police into a berth near us in Cullen bay marina Darwin and it transpired that after a domestic violence incident, the lady climbed up on the boom and jumped with a halyard around her neck..... same scenario at Pantai Cenang in Langkawi Malaysia, a young solo sailor for no obvious reason did a similar thing but through a deck hatch. It’s utterly tragic that someone could reach such a point of desperation where dying in this way is the only option .....and no one in my community could help these people to avoid such a dreadful end to their lives.

[Jim Woodall]

I hope the Dominican authorities are doing or have done a thorough, competent investigation to rule out homicide in this case. I do not want to divert attention away from the tragedy itself. It has not been my intention to high jack this thread but with respect, and I mean that sincerely, this statement in an earlier response is incorrect:

“Hanging oneself inside of the vessel would be very difficult. Human nature will likely force you to simply stand up after certain point of time. That is why people jump from a height (e.g. tree, chandelier), or kick out a chair.”

Suicide by “hanging” is one of the simplest methods of suicide and the inside of a sailboat, or a house, or a dorm room, or even an automobile are places it can easily be done and it has been done. The word “hanging” is often used to describe suicide by self-inflicted strangulation. Many times the victim is not actually “hanging”, it is simply a term of art that encompasses many different methods. Many death investigators refer to certain suicides as “suicide by ligature”. In law enforcement reports suicide by ligature will often be referred to as “by hanging” but that is actually a misnomer.

In many ligature suicides the victim’s feet, knees,back, buttocks, or other body parts are on the floor or ground. If the ligature compresses either or both carotid arteries unconsciousness can occur in as little as 10 seconds and death within minutes. The victim can even be elevated above the point at which the ligature is made fast. Sufficient pressure has to be put on the arteries, but “hanging” isn’t required. Many suicides are by ligature because the implements necessary can be found almost anywhere - a ligature (rope, cord, zip tie, shoelace, belt, etc.) and a sufficiently strong anchoring point (the corner of a door, a door knob, a faucet, a bedpost, a car headrest, etc.) The only other requirement is that the person fully intends to take their own life.

In one death investigation we had a surveillance video showing a man enter a phone booth (yes, a few were still around a few years ago),place his back to the phone, wrap the metal cord around this neck 1- 1/2 times, and sit down. He appeared to lose consciousness in about 17 seconds. The reports all referred to the incident as a “hanging”. Most people hearing or reading of the incident initially thought that it was impossible to commit suicide “by hanging” inside a phone booth and therefore it had to be a homicide. The investigators were very experienced and immediately believed it was a suicide, later confirmed by the video.

I don’t know anything about the scene in the Dominica case. The person may have been physically hanging. Regardless, suicide by hanging or by ligature could and has been accomplished inside sailboats, it would not be difficult if the person fully intended to take his own life. Again, hopefully a full investigation has taken place. Making a murder appear to be a suicide is much harder in real life than on TV or in the movies. A solid investigation can usually conclusively rule out homicide, if in fact, it was a suicide.

[Merrypup]

I just did a search on 'competent crew' and this post came up. It is awful to think of the pain someone must be in to take their own life.

[Cloroxbottle]

I cannot speak to the details of this case, but there are a number of deaths that have been ruled suicide by US medical examiners that clearly were not simply because the physics involved would be impossible.

Remember that if something is ruled a suicide it simplifies everything for everyone involved except the family: no bad press about a destination, eliminates liability for any companies or products ancilliary to the death, the life insurance company is happy, and investigators can go do something else.


The road to truth is often paved with cynicism.

[Skipper Kenny]

Sounds like Arkancide to me.

[Foswick]

This probably isn't a story that warrants much speculation.

[h20man]

To the people saying the FBI has no jurisdiction... If US flagged vessel.. they have jurisdiction...



Certain actions committed by Americans in other countries OUTSIDE of the USA (and not on an American flagged vessel) are also the jurisdiction of the FBI.. as US laws cover Americans where ever they are...


Also certain actions commited AGAINST Americans are also the jurisdiction of the FBI, even though they were outside the USA.



FBI usually has the right to poke about if something American is involved.. the question is, do they want to?

[Merrypup]

So if foul play was involved. How does one protect oneself from that! Are there places to be avoided? Or establishments perhaps?

[Merrypup]

In my experience is no real way to help someone who is intent on killing themselves. Sadly.

[YesIsail]

With 2 good friends shot dead in Dominica in 2014, I can say that this land is not the US or EU where competent investigators will take their time to investigate any lead. Forget our standards and those who talk about how in their countries bla bla bla have no idea of the actual reality of Dominica and how corrupt it is on the inside. Most places do not have police but organised gangs. Yes, gangs.

Poverty along with crack and other drug issues is rampant and the "rich" boaters are basically a few feet away from land, specially in Roseau.

I have been to Dominica for months, both at land leeward and winward, and at all the anchorages and although an amazing island, full of natural wonders, danger is closer than you would think and mixing with the wrong local can have fatal consecuences. They have nothing to loose because they have nothing basically.

Dominica is paradise and hell. Take your precautions and stay vigilant both at land at specially at the anchorage. Do not go out at night and only mix with the right people. Do not confront any thugh, simply leave the place as quitly as possible. Do not smoke, drink party with them and do not get personal if you are not completely sure of their nature.

I do not know this guy that was found hanged at all but since I have experienced not only the murder but also the full complete incompetence of Dominican authorities, I would definitely not rule out murder.

Dominica along with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the most beautiful island but again, it is not the US or EU in terms of safety.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by YesIsail

Dominica along with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the most beautiful island but again, it is not the US or EU in terms of safety.

You can add St Lucia to that list as well.