Q: How can I help this mother get closure from her sons suspicious death in foster care?
I have a close friend who's healthy 12 year old son was found dead, face down in a bathtub of water, with his pants down while in the custody of foster care. Her story is unimaginable. The autopsy states the cause of death was undetermined... There was incorrect information regarding the childs ethnicity and age as well. I can't help but feel that the cause of death would be clearly determined had the child been in his mothers custody (although he'd likely still be alive as well) How can she find out the truth? There are so many suspicious factors of which there are far too many to list here. It's been 17 years and she may go to the grave not knowing the truth. Is there anything that can be done? I mean, it's truly unbelievable to me. There has got to be a way to investigate this.
A:
It is highly doubtful that you are going to be able to adequately investigate a death from 17 years ago. You can try to get the body exhumed and hire a pathologist to perform an autopsy. Be prepared to spend about $10,000, at least. Whatever that determines may lead you to other lines of inquiry which may require an attorney or a private investigator, or both. Substantial additional amounts of money would be required for whatever services those persons would need to perform. The end result of all of that investigation and spent money may not lead to any additional clarity, or may only raise suspicions of guilt/liability.
You can try to convince the relevant authorities to reopen an investigation, but that doesn't seem very likely, either.
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