[rdavis84]

I know that a post using just the link to this writing was posted, but it was obvious from some of the comments on that thread that many didn't bother clicking on the link and reading before commenting.

Here's the Content.

[Slyfox]

Finally, some questions are answered.

[Fred Mertz]

Maybe he wanted to give himself a sporting chance.

My favorite line of the article.

[billbears]

bump

[Politically Correct]

Deciding it was murder just because you do not understand the wound dynamics?

When you place a gun in contact or near contact with your head the result will be a much larger wound opening than you would suspect. Most of this is from the gas leaving the barrel and collecting between the skull and skin and then blowing back out (blowback).

I'll stick with suicide.

[steve50]

Good read rd, I'm sure this will get as much attention as the Foster song and dance.

Have you seen anything on the Arthur Anderson employee they found dead in the state park? A week or two seperated discovery, but it seems the time of death was close.

[sinkspur]

HA!

An article from Rivero's website positing a conspiracy!

What a surprise.

[Osinski]

and this is something we didn't already suspect? Watch out rd, you'll be accused of being the next Michael Rivero. Our country is being pushed off the cliff by the most corrupt of politicians including clinton/bush/cheney and multinational corporations who are securing their financial positions at our expense. This is an outrage, yet no one's talking about it. I voted for Bush, but it is apparent that there was no real choice, just one big political corrupt election for sale to the highest bidder. I have no faith in this administration and unless Americans are somehow awakened to this sell out of our nation and spurred to action, we're just on our way to becoming the serfs of the multinationals.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Has anyone asked the question "Why the He!! would a hit man use rat shot?"

I mean if I am going to shoot you at 0200 in front of your home, put you in your car and drive you a couple of blocks, I damn sure want you dead. Rat shot would be my low on my list of what to use.

[glc1173@aol.com]

"The strongest evidence in the autopsy report is most consistent with murder. Under EVIDENCE OF INJURY on numbered page 3 we find, "The defect is stellate and, when the wound edges are repositiioned, measures 7.2 centimeters in the horizontal direction and 4.5 centimeters in the vertical direction." This suggests a wound inflicted by a starburst of rat shot pellets which were far enough from the muzzle of the weapon to have separated from one another by as much as 2.83 inches before striking the head. Who would, or could, shoot themselves in the temple like this?"

A 3"xunder-2" head wound is perfectly consistent with a common botched gunshot suicide.

The guy puts the gun to the side of his head - but not at right angle - and the bullet glances off in a graze wound. At least one guy who tried actually had the bullet "ride" between skull and scalp - coming out the other side and not harming him much.

[Dog Gone]

This is such BS. I especially like the argument that Baxter wouldn't have owned any ratshot since he presumably had no rats or snakes in his house.

I don't either, but that's exactly the kind of ammo I keep loaded in one of my pistols.

[dighton]

Unlike most of what comes from Rivero's site, this one IMHO is worth open-minded consideration. Maybe suicide (but what an unusual choice of ammo), maybe murder (but also a bizarre choice, because likely only to wound unless the gun is held very close). Ratshot as a message is interesting.

I'd like to see stats on murder/suicide with similar ammunition. Anyone?

[skateman]

I knew it, Vince Foster did it.

[John O]

OHHHH it's an enron story!!

for a moment there I thought the bitchy lady from the meow mix commercials finally offed the chubby guy's cat!

God Save America (Please)

[Steve0113]

There is an irregular abrasion on the palmar surface of the distal phalanx of the fifth digit, which measures 1.5 centimeters...

Such an injury... suggests that he had recently fallen to his left (consistent with being shot in the right temple) and attempted to break to fall by extending his left hand, perhaps on an asphalt road.

Uh, no, it doesn't suggest that. If he'd just been shot in the temple he wouldn't have reached out to break his fall. Brain shots are instant death.

[Mr. K]

What is most unusual about this (to me) is that he was one of the people who would NOT have been in trouble over Enron- he was going to tell stories that would have gotten others in trouble. What reason did he have to kill himself?

[TheGoodDoc]

I know one of Baxter's sisters. The family is absolutely convinced this was murder. I initially somewhat dismissed this as the family's denial and their means of coping, but now it looks like they might be right.