BBM
I do think that homicidal violence would be the manner of death, not the cause. To quote from the linked article...
"At autopsy the coroner would see a dead guy with a boat-load of heroin in his system and conclude that the cause of death was a heroin overdose. But, thats all he could say. The manner of death would depend on who gave him the heroin and for what purpose. Thats where police investigation comes in. The results of this investigation will then guide the coroner in his determination of the manner of death."
The article goes on to say that if the dead guy's dealer deliberately sold him stronger heroin so he would die, the manner of death would be homicide.
My thinking is that if WH gave AJ heroin with the intent to kill her, the manner of death would be homicide. IMO that would be a violent act in itself...therefore, violent homicide. Forcing a drug into her body would be just as violent as rape, even if there were no discernible injuries.
If LE observed that her wrists and ankles were bound with duct tape to immobilize AJ (we don't know that they were) it would be obvious to LE that it was homicide and not suicide...OT--unless, of course, LE is the San Diego County Sheriff investigating Rebecca Zahau's death. Then all bets are off.
JMO