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Murder or Suicide Scenario Details

You are investigating the death of Reginald Ayers. Mr. Ayers was a 64 year old man who appeared to be in excellent physical condition; in fact, he appeared to be almost 20 years younger than his stated

age. He was the sole owner of a software development company with yearly earnings over two million dollars. He is also the company’s sole software developer. Mr. Ayers has a $500,000 life insurance policy out on himself. He was found dead in the study of his large expensive home. His body was discovered Monday morning by his 32 year old son Phil. Mr. Ayers was shot once in the right temple with a handgun. The handgun was found clutched in his right hand. The fatal wound is in his right temple, with an exit wound through the left temple. He was sitting at his desk. The deceased is survived by his second wife (Anna, age 26) and his 32 year old son Phil from his first marriage (both Phil and Anna shared the same residence with Mr. Ayers; neither Phil nor Anna work; both were supported by Mr. Ayers). Phil and Anna will split the proceeds of the life insurance policy. Both Phil and Anna were out of town Sunday night (the time that Mr. Ayers died) in different nearby cities; Phil was attending a seminar on self-confidence and Anna was staying over night with a female friend from college. Neither has an iron clad alibi, since it is possible they could have left and returned unnoticed. Your investigation uncovers the following additional facts: The deceased was a fitness fanatic, working out constantly. The gun and ammo was purchased by Mr. Ayers two weeks before his death. The toxicology report revealed the presence of pain medication. The autopsy reports the discovery that the deceased had cancer of the testicles, level 3. The cancer had spread to his liver, lungs and brain. Treatment would consist of surgery to remove the cancerous testicles and radiation/chemo-therapy to try to control the cancer in other parts of his body. Testicular cancer is rare in a person Mr. Ayers’ age and treatment involves multiple negative side-effects; his prognosis was not good, despite his physical condition. Mr. Ayers had a 22 year old college co-ed as a mistress--he paid all of her bills, including rent and school expenses. She stated that their affair was primarily physical and that the deceased had a "strong sexual appetite." She stated that about six weeks ago he began to complain about pain in his groin during/after sex and two weeks ago he stopped seeing her without explanation. She is not named in his will, has nothing to gain from his death, and has a strong alibi for the time of his death. The deceased's doctor is willing to reveal that he gave Mr. Ayers the diagnosis of cancer two weeks ago. There is no evidence that suggests that Anna or Phil knew about Mr. Ayer’s cancer.