Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 8:46 am

A former MTSU student apparently burned himself in a dumpster last week at his Nottingham Apartment complex on Greenland Drive, the Murfreesboro Fire Department's assistant chief said.

Assistant Fire Marshal Carl Peas said "Information obtained from the investigation and the Medical Examiner's Office led us to conclude that the cause of death was suicide by fire," Assistant Chief Allen Swader reported in a press release Wednesday morning. Toxicology reports are still pending.

The Murfreesboro Post is not releasing the name of the 32-year-old man from Massachusetts who left a suicide note.

"He talked about how cruel the world was," Swader said. "He never mentioned how he planned to take his life."

Preliminary results of the autopsy conducted by the state medical examiner's office did not reveal any trauma to the body other than from fire, Swader reported. There were no signs of forced trauma to the body such as bullet wounds or knife wounds.

After an investigation conducted by the Murfreesboro Fire Department and the Murfreesboro Police Department, investigators were able to develop a possible identification
of the victim. On Tuesday, dental records positively identified the victim. His family has
been notified.

The Tennessee Suicide Prevention network listed the warning signs of suicide and way to help:

Warning Signs

• Threats of suicide or statements revealing a desire to die.

• Previous suicide attempts or self harm.

• Depression (crying, changes in sleeping/eating patterns, hopelessness, loss of interest in hobbies/activities).

• Final arrangements (e.g. giving away prized possessions).

• Drastic changes in personality or behavior.


How to Help

• Keep calm and take it seriously. Do not minimize the threat or assume it is a joke or a way of getting attention.

• Discuss suicide openly and directly.

• Listen. Show your support and concern.

• If possible, remove objects such as guns or pills that could be used to inflict self harm.

• Get professional help.