(L.A.) Robert Skinner, 58, Committed Suicide

Case Number: 2023-03057

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 58-year-old Caucasian male that occurred in a garage.

The coroner’s office has identified the man as Robert Skinner.

Manner of Death: Suicide

Cause of Death A: Asphyxia

Cause of Death B: Hanging

Other Significant Condition: Medical History of Depression

RIP ROBERT SKINNER (February 24, 1965 – March 19, 2023)

Unlike the other DMEs, the deputy medical examiner here, Dr. Paul Gliniecki, properly documented the cause of death. The decedent asphyxiated and did not die from breaking his spinal cord. Other DMEs simply jot down “hanging” without actual detail of how that caused the death.

From 2005 to 2014, there were 25,270 asphyxiation suicides in the United States. Close to 80% of the decedents were white non-Hispanic males.

Most asphyxiation suicides involved hanging (90.7%). For hanging suicides, the three most commonly used means were power or extension cords (N = 1834), bedding (N = 873), and animal ropes (N = 578). The three most common anchor points for hanging suicides were trees (N = 2215), beams (N = 2014), and closets (N = 2009).

Epidemiological studies of suicides may help in developing strategies to reduce the number of people prematurely taking their own lives.