Dean Scott Westbrook, a 32-year-old man, died from carbon monoxide poisoning in November 2005. He was under significant psychological and social stress: facing criminal charges for drug cultivation and electricity theft, his home had no power, he'd lost his job and his relationship, and he was a suspect in a neighbour's murder investigation. His last contact with his Community Corrections Officer on 10 November noted he was very stressed about the neighbour's death investigation. Police found him deceased in his car in his garage on 15 November, with a hose running from the exhaust into the cabin. The coroner found this was an intentional death. While no medical errors or system failures were identified, this case highlights the importance of mental health assessment and support for individuals under criminal investigation and severe psychosocial stress, particularly those with psychiatric history (his brother had schizophrenia and committed suicide when Dean was young).
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