The reasons the police felt that Michelle had killed herself were:
- The presence of Michelle's body with a gunshot wound to the mouth.
- The initial investigation was conducted hastily and lacked thoroughness.
What happened to the investigation of Michelle O'Connell?
Some of the reasons the police initially concluded that Michelle O'Connell died by her own hand were:
- The location of the gun, belonging to her b-o-y-f-r-i-e-n-d Jeremy Banks, a deputy with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, at the scene.
- No apparent signs of struggle or forced entry, suggesting a self-inflicted act.
The police failed to consider other possibilities beyond Michelle killing herself, despite inconsistencies and red flags in the evidence. Witness statements and alibis were not properly investigated or verified.
The police may have lacked sufficient training and awareness regarding domestic violence and partner homicide, especially involving law enforcement personnel.
This lack of knowledge could have blinded them to potential signs of struggle in the relationship between Michelle and Jeremy.
Note :
The question is about Michelle O’Connell, a woman who the police said ended her own life around the same time as she tried to leave a relationship with her policeman partner.