The Case of the Corpse That Did Not Fall

Although this article from The New York Post emphasizes that the man was urinating from a moving train while between cars, what I consider most interesting that he died from a fall and that his corpse remained on the train, between cars.

Think about that the next time the MTA/NYPD announce that an unwitnessed death occurred because the (live) victim simply fell from the train.

Homeless Man Walks on Elevated Tracks

I recently came across a clipping from The Times of April 17, 1990 describing another "accidental" death of a person who was "walking" on the tracks ... at 4:15 AM.

This time it was not on underground tracks but on tracks elevated above the Bronx streets and the man, who was homeless, was "walking" barefoot.

For anyone not familiar with them those portions of the New York transit rail system that are elevated present a risk not present in the underground section; in addition to the possibility of being struck by a train, a "walker" could be killed by falling to the streets below.

Although I do not doubt that this man was barefoot when he was killed, I simply do not believe he was walking on the tracks. I suspect that is a falsehood intended to convince by implication that "there is no evidence of foul play."

Here is an image of The Times clipping.

Does the NYPD "Fully Scrutinize" All Subway Deaths?

In March 1998 I wrote the then Police Commissioner Howard Safir to express my concerns about the handling of unwitnessed track deaths in the subway.

On the 24th of March I received a response from William H. Allee, Chief of Detectives for the entire NYPD which, since 1995, also included personnel formerly part of the Transit Police Department. Below is a copy of his letter which I have modified only to delete my postal address.

 

One wonders whether Chief Allee would consider that NYPD detectives did "thorough and fully scrutinize" the twenty-five track deaths that occurred in 2012. 

Or does the NYPD continue the long-established practice of the former Transit Police Department detectives and automatically ignore the possibility of homicide whenever an unwitnessed track death occurs?

Judged by the rapidity in which the NYPD advised the media (in most cases before the Medical Examiner even began the autopsy) that "Foul Play Wasn't Suspected" I believe that it does.