Date:
Tue, 29 Jan 2002 22:24:47 EST
By
Cathryn Conroy,
CompuServe
News Editor
A
day after former Enron executive John Clifford
Baxter was found dead in his parked Mercedes with
a gunshot wound to the head, the medical examiner
ruled it a suicide. Not so fast. A top homicide
investigator with the Sugar Land (Texas) Police
Department isn't positive it was a suicide and
is still actively gathering evidence in the case.
And that is why the suicide note found next to
Baxter's body has not yet been released. The New
York Post reports that detective Billy Baugh is
retracing Baxter's movements in the days prior
to his death. In addition, he is checking the
car for blood splatters and fingerprints and running
ballistic tests on the gun that was found in Baxter's
hand. Because guns are not registered in Texas,
Baugh has enlisted the help of federal agents
from the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
to find out who purchased the .38-caliber revolver
and when. Adding to the mystery: A family friend
told the New York Post that Baxter's wife says
he was home in bed just hours before his body
was found at 2:23 a.m. on Friday, January 25.
"His
wife couldn't believe he could get out of bed
without her knowing it," said the friend. The
Sugar Land Police Department says it isn't disagreeing
with the findings of the medical examiner, but
wants to be sure nothing is overlooked in the
investigation. Meanwhile, CBNC reported that the
suicide note says Baxter was distraught about
Enron's collapse and the prospect of having to
testify against former colleagues and friends.
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