Writing fiction about a truth

Several years ago, we got word that a woman had committed suicide.  We knew this family very well as did my parents and other family members.  It came as such a shock as it was so unlike her.  At first, there was shock, then grief and then questions.  There were discussions as to why but no one had any answers.

At the time, my husband was a police officer and he had the opportunity to speak with an officer who was familiar with the case and he said at the time that it was a cover up and that the guy got away with murder.

Through the years, this has haunted me with several family members and a few friends who said it had to be true and that he would never do such a thing, while others insisted he could and he did.  The family were well known in their community and he was well liked and ran a business there.  His wife was well known and liked just as much so it was a terrible shock to everyone.

My husband was always after me to write the story but I only had the hear say of family and friends and after 30 years I wasn't even sure I could get any information from the local authorities, especially since they had classified it a Suicide.

But I tried.  I contacted the local police and was told that about three years before they had purged a lot of the old files that were in storage and he couldn't promise me they would have any files on the case.  I was disappointed until a week later I received a call from the Police chief.

He told me, he didn't know why the files had been kept but in looking over them, he thought they didn't do investigations back in the 70's like the do today.  I think it was the tone of his voice that made me think that he had a lot of questions too and that maybe something just wasn't right.

He sent me copies of everything that had been kept with a note that perhaps they hadn't been purged because someone thought they might uncover some new information.

As we read through the reports, I knew in my heart that it wasn't a suicide but there wasn't anything to really prove otherwise.  The man was very clever and being so well known and liked, he was able to avoid an autopsy and later won a battle against her family to have the body exhumed and examined.

I can't only blame him, I put some of the blame on the authorities for not following up.  There were some clues and one officer who was at the crime scene, and it was a crime, was very adament in his reports of how he felt and I found out later that he had been let go from the department for some little infraction.  Again I think the authorities knew but didn't do anything and they managed to get rid of anyone who questioned the death.

So I sat down and began to write a story.  It is a fiction story but it is based on this particular crime.  I changed the name, the locations and the life style of those involved since the family still lives in the area and I didn't want to bring the memories back or cause pain to them.

In writing Suicide or Murder, I had to search deep into my soul to try not to be biased.  It was hard to do and I hope that I was able to make people wonder and think about it.  I know there is some bias coming through but I also tried to leave some doubt.  It isn't much as the police reports didn't leave much doubt.  The only doubt came from those who were involved and claimed they were right and there was no wrong doing.

If I am right, the man did get away with murder.  And at this time, the only one who really knows the truth is God and if he is guilty, he will be judged by a higher being than man on earth.

For more information about Suicide or Murder, please visit my website at  www.writer43.webs.com