Posted on 11/08/19
| News Source: WBAL TV
BALTIMORE — Comments made Thursday by the medical examiner and the Baltimore City state's attorney are casting doubt on the suicide finding in the investigation into Detective Sean Suiter's death.
But when asked about it Thursday, Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said, "The one thing that I can tell you is that, with all open and pending matters, I cannot ethically comment on them. So I can tell you that it is an open and pending matter that, unfortunately, I am unable to comment on."
Suiter was found shot in the head on Nov. 15, 2017, in a vacant lot on Bennett Place in west Baltimore. Suiter was investigating a homicide and had been set to testify before a federal grand jury in the Gun Trace Task Force corruption case the day after his death.
A Maryland State Police review of an independent investigation is complete. It backs up the ruling of death as a suicide.
The State Medical Examiner's Office had already determined the death a homicide. When asked Thursday whether the office will change that finding, a spokesman said, "The case is still under investigation by the State's Attorney's Office. We don't discuss cases under investigation."
The Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office did not respond to a question regarding information they may be pursuing. There's no word on how long the investigation will last.
A Baltimore Police Department spokesman sent 11 News a statement Friday, saying, "The state's attorney and Commissioner Harrison have agreed that there are a small number of tasks to complete in this case. The commissioner respects the process and, as a result, BPD is proceeding with those tasks."
Suiter's family doesn't buy the suicide finding, saying the Maryland State Police review of the case is flawed.
"We are upset. We are frustrated and we really want some answers," said Damira Suiter, Sean Suiter's daughter.
The Suiter family attorney, Jeremy Eldridge, suggested more needs to done with a partial strand of DNA evidence found on the detective's gun that didn't belong to him.
"(It's) significant enough, mind you, to exclude the individuals that touched him," Eldridge said.
The DNA has not been linked to anyone or anything.
"I hope the office of state's attorney of Baltimore will continue investigating the case," Eldridge said.
"He gave the department so many years, and to tarnish his name and his legacy is a big disappointment to us," said Nicole Suiter, Sean Suiter's widow.
The Independent Review Board did not find the material significant. It concluded Suiter's death was a suicide.