Manners of Death

  1. Homicide - the death was caused by the actions of another person.

Note: Many people, including the media, confuse the terms homicide and murder. Murder is a criminal charge or the unlawful taking of a human life by another. After the medical examiner determines the manner of death to be a homicide, then law enforcement investigate that death to determine if there is probable cause to bring the criminal charge of murder against the person who caused the death. While all murders are homicides, not all homicides are murders. If a homeowner, fearful for his or her life, kills an intruder or a law enforcement officer kills someone in the line of duty, both are considered homicides but not necessarily murder.

  1. Natural - the death was from diseases or medical conditions such as cancer or heart attack.
  2. Accidental - an unintended death
  3. Suicide - a death that is intentionally self-inflicted
  4. Undetermined - there is little or no evidence to establish, with medical