Strangulation is different from hanging oneself as the nature of the injuries would not be the same.
The coroner believes Gabby dies of a homicide, and the yokel lokel coroner knows his craft and occupation.
If the hyoid bone was broken and if there were other injuries that someone inflicted that would be telling ?
About strangulation and hanging: Language matters
Hanging Injuries and Strangulation: Practice Essentials
From theses links, the manner of injuries in a
hanging vs strangling by an outside force are vastly different.
These injuries are what the coroner would be focusing on as they are important.
Also thinking a coroner worth his pay grade would be careful not to mistake a suicide from a murder.
MOO.