Case #224003
Subject: Raymond Bey

Date Opened: 11/04/2015
Date Closed: Unsolved
Date last communicated with Subject:
Hired by: -- redacted --
Last known address: -- redacted --

Case Description

On November 4^th, 2015 at 09:00 hours, The Celina Police Department responded and initiated a death investigation regarding the accidental overdose death of Raymond N. Bey.

Raymond according to the reports was a healthy (36) thirty six year old male, whom had a known issue with prescription medication and heroin. Raymond was alleged to have been in a fetal position in the bathroom of the residence of 320 Leona Street, Celina Ohio 45822 around 20:00 the night of November 3^rd, 2015 in an unconscious state. Raymond was later found deceased according to reports in the same position around 09:00 hours the next morning.

Allegations of foul play have been suspected in the death of Raymond N. Bey, that may not have been present at the time of the investigation, therefore as a starting point, one must review what has already been done and documented. The following paragraphs are nothing more than a point of interest, or sections of the official police report that we feel warrant further examination. It must be noted that we were not present at any time during the investigation, and while it may be easy to nitpick per say, a death investigation should not be taken lightly as even the smallest things can lead to a complete change of the outcome or cause of death. Therefore some of the statements below may come across as derogatory towards the investigating officers, however it is meant more as a listing of questions as to why or why certain common practices were not completed or why follow up was not completed on various red flags.

• The photographs received during the public information records request are very vague and improper for what would be considered a crime scene photo shoot. Are there additional pictures that were not turned over? One of the primary issues with the pictures is a photograph is to tell a story, as well as to capture the scene in its true state as the officer sees it. Therefore when completing a photo shoot of a crime scene, the photographer should start at the beginning of the residence, typically outside then work his or her way into the residence taking photographs of all four corners of each room they enter until they reach the primary point of the scene, and then if there is additional portions of the residence photographs can be taken of those areas as well. The purpose of this procedure is to capture the entire scene, which is extremely useful at later times to verify witness sequence of events and etc. Additionally the primary scene should be photographed as a whole and then close up pictures of the body as well as any items of interest around the body. Photographs should also display the time and date on every photograph. A visual of the residence in its true state would be extremely beneficial to help collaborate some of the statements that have been made in this case, without such, it certainly leaves room for unanswered questions and assumptions.

• The initial responding officer states in his report that the victim Raymond N. Bey was observed by him, and had no signs of life. He stated that he was cold to the touch and rigor mortis was already set in. That statement alone is subject to debate, as questions of the officer’s medical training and experience come into play. The officer also stated that medics arrived and what I’m assuming was a life pack defibrillator or something similar was hooked up to the victim and no heart activity was observed. The primary question here is was there any resuscitation attempts made by the office or medics? If not, why not? Typically the senior medic on the scene will assume the command role and clear with medical control such as Emergency Room doctor as to resuscitate or not, if the medic made the call not to resuscitate then there should be a detailed report as to why he or she made that decision, which is normally included in a death investigation report. Having such report would help give better knowledge of the condition the body was found in, and would help support the officer’s
• The Officer states that the corner was contacted, and that an autopsy was requested, but then later states that a funeral home company came and transported the body to Miami Valley crime Is this a common practice? Normally a corner will come to the scene and examine the body him or herself, or send an investigator to do so for them. Is there a reason the corner chose not to examine the body at the scene prior to the autopsy?
• Just a question regarding policy of the Police Department, is it a required process or common practice to do a formal interview of the witness in a death investigation, or were there additional questions that the Detective had that were not answered the night of the incident?
• The Officer States that there was a dark brown substance located by the body, the Officer also states that it appeared to be fecal matter or vomit. Was the substance collected and tested? If so where are the results of such?
• Given the condition of the victim was found in, and his clothing placement it would be safe to assume the victim was preparing to use the toilet, however the Officer states the toilet was in a down position, and the pictures reflect such. Was the witness ever asked regarding the placement of his clothing if she had flushed the toilet?
• During the initial interview of the witness or victims wife, she advised the officer that she had cleaned something up with a towel, was the towel collected as evidence, and tested? If not, why not?
• During the search of the residence, and the primary area where the body was located, the report appears to claim that there was nothing, found other than prescription medication in the bedroom. Just to clarify there was no drug paraphernalia or drugs found in the bathroom area, especially any of the following items, syringes, spoons, lighter, or any pills, powder of such.

Nothing was located on the victims person according to the report other than a wedding ring, the autopsy report however claims the victim had a watch and a wedding band on, but either way the question is was there anything such as drug paraphernalia or anything of the such found on victims person? Additionally since a search warrant was filed for the victim’s cell phone, was the witness ever questioned as to where the victim’s cell phone was, did he have it in the bathroom with him, was it moved, was anything deleted etc.? Another question is where the results of the search warrant are, was anything located within the records that was a cause for concern?

• The autopsy report claims that a presumed needle mark was located on the victims left The victim’s wife during her initial statement made the remark that the victim snorted drugs.
• Were there any syringes or needles of any kind found at the residence? Any paraphernalia located to indicate that the drugs were injected per say rather than snorted?
• Giving the victim according to witness statements was in the family vehicle immediately prior to being an unconscious state in the bathroom was the vehicle ever searched? If so was anything located.
• During the officer and the detectives conversation with the victim’s wife and the wife’s mother, several statements were made regarding the incident that have struck me as odd, or in need of additional clarification, for example Bey advised the officer that she returned home around20:00 hours and found Raymond in the bathroom, but during the follow up interview she told the detective that her and Raymond arrived home around 20:00 hours. Was a clarification on time frame ever asked?
• Bey advised the officer that she had found him in the bathroom around 20:00 hours and then fell asleep and checked on him again at 5:30 am. However in the follow up interview she claimed that she checked on Raymond every hour during the night, additionally she told the detective that she had advised her son to go outside to use the restroom around 21:00 hours.
• Was there ever any clarifications to what time she went to sleep, and if she had checked on Raymond between the hours of 20:00 and 5:30 time frame?
• Bey advised officers that she contacted her mother and her mother came to the crime scene and then instructed her to call an ambulance, however during the interview of Ms. Bey’s mother she claims she arrived around the same time the ambulance did.
• Bey advised the detective that she had went and paid rent and stopped at the Shell Gas Station on the night of the incident, not that it needed to be done but was this ever confirmed by officers?

• Bey’s mother told officers that Ms. Bey did hear her alarm and overslept, but Ms. Bey advised officers that she had an alarm set but shut it off, was the question of why ever asked?
• Was the question ever asked as to why Bey locked the bathroom door?
• the report indicates the whereabouts of Bey on November 11^th , 2017 at a motel. Was Ms. Bey considered a suspect, was she being monitored for a reason?
• The child’s school attendance records were Was this a result of the drug use in the home that prompted a concern for the child’s wellbeing, if so was Children Services ever contacted? Was a charge of child endangering ever considered?

Granted some of the questions above may have been answered to the officer’s satisfaction and just not documented, however with what is documented of the incident, it leaves many unanswered questions. Some of the statements made are perceived as red flags as well. Given the nature of this case, and the suspicion of foul play that has been brought forth, an interview with the investigating officer may be well warranted to see if any clarification can be obtained.

Another question I have though is an investigation appears to have been initiated, such as the formal interview, the whereabouts of the witness days later, etc. this was then stopped abruptly. Why?

Case Assets

Ray Bey Murder UVIS