The evidence was examined through a cooperative effort of the Medical Examiner's Section and the Questioned Document section of the Crime Laboratory in Little Rock. An examination of the writing of the body was similar to the process used for determining whether any two writings were the same or different. Photographs were taken of the body so that the questioned writing could be arranged and compared with known samples regarding letter formation and writing medium. A postmortem examination revealed that the victim had contact with soot on the skin, muscle, and dura. In addition shot pellets were recovered from the head and brain, and gunshot residues were found on swabs from the victims right hand. Together with information concerning the circumstances surrounding the last hours of the man's life, the case was ruled death through suicide on the basis of the identification of the writing on the body with that of the victims and the results of the autopsy. 6 figures and 4 references (Author abstract modified)