Coroner Rules Drowning a Suicide

Over objections from the man’s family, the Ventura County coroner Thursday ruled as a suicide the Tuesday death of a Newbury Park man found floating in his backyard pool with his hands bound behind his back.

Steve Hale, a retired department store manager, died of asphyxiation by drowning at 6:59 p.m., said James Wingate, chief deputy coroner. The 51-year-old had been discovered by sheriff’s deputies about 4:30 p.m. and was rushed to Los Robles Medical Center where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

In addition to the autopsy results, tests completed Wednesday on key evidence--including fingerprints that were identified as Hale’s--supported investigator’s suspicions that Hale may have fastened his own wrists with duct tape, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Paige.

Although the coroner has officially ruled the death a suicide, Det. Larry Robertson, head of major crimes investigations, said sheriff’s officials have not totally abandoned the possibility of homicide and are still examining evidence.

“We don’t disagree, but we have not ruled it a suicide,” he said. “There is still more investigating to be done.”

Hale’s widow, Dianne, has said that she was upset with investigators’ suspicions that her husband had killed himself.

She said she believes that her husband, who had limited use of his right hand and leg since suffering a stroke two years ago, was killed by an intruder.

But investigators say they found no signs that anything was taken or that the house had been ransacked, and Wingate reported no bruises or other signs of struggle on Hale’s body.

“The investigation has revealed an absence of motive for death and no apparent reason for anyone to have murdered Mr. Hale,” said Senior Deputy Patti Dreyer in a news release.

In addition, Robertson said Hale’s wrists were tied loosely in a fashion that suggests he may have taped them in front of his body and then stepped through his arms.