It is upsetting... can they actually give any examples of somebody doing that (ropes, naked and knots behind the back/etc) to themselves in a suicide? I can't remember any such case.
To my surprise, there are cases of suicide with hands tied behind the back. I found this study that was done in Turkey when I googled “has anyone committed suicide with hands tied behind back.” Of course Rebecca’s case comes up first.
This study talks about several cases that were initially considered homicide because the hands were tied, but determined to be suicide.
In no way am I implying that I think Rebecca committed suicide. I have bolded a section about homicidal hanging and one that makes clear that the investigation should be done when the victim is still suspended. Adam had cut Rebecca down and done who knows what else to the scene. And wasn’t there quite a delay for a medical examiner to arrive at the scene?
CAUTION: GRAPHIC PHOTOS AT LINK
DISCUSSION
Hanging is a form of ligature strangulation in which the force
applied to the neck is derived from the gravitational force of the total
or partial weight of the body and is generally suicidal. It can
rarely be seen as accidental, especially in children and in adults
during autoerotic activities. It is unusual to ascribe suicidal appear-
ances to a homicidal hanging case. Being able to kill another adult
by homicidal hanging requires force and intervention. However, if a
person is in a confused state because of mental illness, under the
effect of medication or alcohol, or if the victim is a child, then it is
possible to ascribe suicidal appearances to a homicidal hanging
case.
In adult victims, more than 1 perpetrator could perform a
homicidal hanging but this would most likely result in a violent
struggle. Thus, in such circumstances a medical examiner would
expect to find severe traumatic lesions on the victim’s body.
To determine the cause of death in hanging cases, while the
corpse is still at the death scene and in the suspended position, a
detailed investigation should be performed by a team including a
forensic pathologist. Further evidence from the death scene inves-
tigation, statements from witnesses, the presence of a suicide note,
and autopsy findings can all help to determine whether the victim
was responsible for his or her own death.
The tying together of the wrists in hanging cases is rare, but
may not indicate a homicide, so long as the hanging ligature could
not have been self-applied. Some suicidal people try to avoid being
rescued by others or themselves.
In the medical literature, there are
few cases reported in which the wrists are tied and/or the mouth is
plugged or tied. Marsh et al presented 1 suicidal hanging case
where the victim’s wrists were bound and a sock had been used to
gag his mouth. Takac et al presented another suicidal hanging case
where the victim’s hands were tied and a handkerchief put in his
mouth. Goonetilleke and Krzyzanowski et al also reported hang-
ing cases where hands or limbs were tied. Ozkok et al, Tugcu
et al, and Turla and Ozkanli also presented suicidal hanging
cases where hands were bound.
In our study it was observed that in 5 (29.4%) of the 17 cases
the hands were either limply or tightly fastened together in front or
behind the body. At first glance, a hanging body found with their
hands tied together would give the impression of a homicide.
However, an investigation of the death scene,such as in our first case
showed that the victim had tied up his own hands; 1 end of the cable
was in 1 palm and the other end was free, showing bite marks on it.
In the same case, a piece of paper had been placed against the
hanging ligature and the victim had left a suicide note. In the second
case, the hands were tied around the thigh and waist to prevent the
hands from rising up. In the third case, both hands had been tied
behind the body with a simple knot. Also, along with a suicide note,
the door had been locked from inside, meaning anybody trying to
enter the room would have to break the lock. In the fourth case, there
was a suicide note left at the death scene and both hands had been
fastened limply behind the back. In the fifth case, beside the
presence of a suicide note, the hands had been tied behind the back
and a plastic bag had been used to close the mouth.
In all 5 cases, the
knots over the hands had apparently been secured by the victims and
based upon the autopsy findings and inquiry data, it was determined
that the hangings were suicidal. Each victim was thought to have
tied both their hands together to prevent any change of mind.
https://www.researchgate.net/public...g_and_Reducing_Pain_in_Suicidal_Hanging_Cases
