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MY WORK

Nancy Taribuono and Andrea Zaferas, esteemed investigators in aquatic deaths, have analyzed over 4,000 cases involving bodies found in water. Many of these incidents were classified as homicides, staged circumstances, or misidentified as accidental, suicidal, or natural causes of death. Additionally, a number of cases were determined to be non-drowning asphyxiation fatalities that had incorrectly been attributed to drowning. Among the cases that led to homicide convictions, more than half were initially categorized under manners of death other than homicide.

The following cases represent those Nancy has investigated. All were originally deemed accidental or suicidal. However, after meticulous and comprehensive investigations involving interviews and consultations with medical experts, many of these cases were revised to reflect a change in the manner of death from accident to homicide.

Regrettably, many of the cases listed below, along with others not included, have yet to be recognized as homicides by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, or district attorneys, and continue to be classified as accidents or suicides:

- Asphyxia resulting from drowning, influenced by alcohol
- Blunt force trauma due to a fall
- Acute Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis linked to alcohol consumption
- Drowning caused by MDMA (ecstasy, “bath salts”) intoxication
- Drowning associated with the effects of Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Diazepam, etc.)
- Gunshot wound to the head
- Asphyxia from ligature strangulation
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Heroin overdose
- Drowning related to an underlying seizure disorder
- Drowning attributed to Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Here’s an example of a case solved by Nancy:

A 19-year-old male disappeared after attending a fraternity party. His friends informed the police that he had been drinking and left the party on his own. The next day, his body was discovered in a nearby lake. Initially, the incident was ruled as an accidental drowning due to intoxication and falling into the water. CASE CLOSED!

Then Nancy Taribuono and her team reviewed the autopsy findings, toxicology results, and photographs for the family. They observed significant bruising on both shoulders. It was revealed that two fellow students had submerged the young man underwater as part of a hazing ritual associated with the fraternity. Consequently, his manner of death was altered from accident to homicide. Those two students are currently awaiting trial.

SuspiciousDeaths.org