Coroner Disputes Ruling of Suicide in Hammer Death

HOBART, Ind. —  A cancer patient killed by 32 hammer blows to the head could not possibly have committed suicide as detectives concluded, a coroner said Monday.

The Lake County coroner, Dr. Daniel Thomas, said he stands by his ruling that the death of James A. Cooley, 52, of Hobart was a homicide, adding that, if necessary, he could use his powers as coroner under Indiana law to ask the county prosecutor to keep the case open.

Cooley’s body was found in the basement of his home on April 6 by his wife, Diane. Thomas said an autopsy disclosed that the victim had died from the blows of a hammer found lying near the body.