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It wasn't suicide, she says

Crofton man's sister wants further inquiry into his shooting death

August 17, 2008|By Justin Fenton , Sun reporter

Padilla filed complaints against two of the officers involved with the case, one of them a sergeant who she alleges told her "all Hispanic men are cowards" who hold a rosary when they commit suicide. When she told another officer that her brother was not suicidal, she says he snapped back, "Ma'am, do you realize your brother blew his brains out?"

Waltemeyer said an internal affairs investigation could not substantiate that claim, either.

There are several things that Margaret Padilla says police could do to give her peace of mind: She says the suicide note and the handgun should be fingerprinted; his hand should have been tested for gunshot residue. They should also conduct interviews to determine his state of mind in the days and weeks leading up to his death.

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She believes she has other clues that could help find his killer, and she is looking for a lawyer who could represent her in a civil lawsuit.

"This is going to lead us to the person that hurt him," she says confidently. "But no one will listen to me."

justin.fenton@baltsun.com

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