I really, really hope the ME will look so carefully at her, past the suicide assumption (if what we've heard rumored is true) make sure there's no way this was set up to appear this way. If she did take her life, then in a way it might seem that she indeed left "voluntarily" - but the family seemed so sure that she wouldn't have left her life without a word, that even if they're wrong and she struggled with things they weren't aware of, they deserve to have that investigated incredibly carefully.
I'm also really unhappy with the Search and Rescue mention that (paraphrasing) 'the family told us they'd searched this area, so we didn't search it ourselves'.
RS - & RBBM.
"(((I)f we've heard rumored is true)": I'm so sorry, but I must have completely missed this. If you don't mind, I would appreciate if you could elaborate as to where &/or when the rumors were talked about, & credibility thereof?
ITA: Even if it is true that she had made attempts before, I, too, think that both suicide & homicide should be considered. Her family deserves this. What bothers me -of course, everybody is different, but ...- the most is the location where the body was found. As far as I know she had no connection whatsoever to this property.
I can only speak from my own experience, & as a previous poster said, it is entirely possible that Leanne did not suffer from depression, & that is the only way in which I can believe that the family did not see this coming. I do agree that once a person decides he/she will end his/her life, he/she may appear somewhat happy for a period of time, & even have enough energy to get in touch w/ friends, giving his/her possessions away, etc. However, when a person is truly depressed to the point he/she is considering suicide as a real option, there is no way a close friend or family member does not see any changes -however subtle they may be- in that person, IMO. I do think, however, that one factor that is unique to this case is that she had been away from her family & friends for almost 2 years, certainly making it much harder for someone to identify those types of changes in Leanne.
Yes, I think the comment made by SAR re: previous search efforts on the family's part was completely unnecessarily & inconsiderate. The last thing the family needs right now is to have someone place a blame on them, especially out in the public. If I were SAR, as you said, I would consider this as a significant lesson, include it in a post-search-report-type document (everything done internally) & move on. I understand that they have their credibility & reputation to protect, but to do so by putting a blame on someone other than itself & announcing it to the rest of the world -& the case is still very much active- is utterly unprofessional & simply heartless.
