Man’s death ruled case of suicide

Joplin residents lend a hand in Moore

Joplin is paying it forward. The day before the two-year anniversary of an EF-5 tornado leveling one-third of Joplin, pastors from Ignite Church in Joplin were in Moore, where an EF-5 spent 40 minutes on the ground on Monday.

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June 21, 2012

Man’s death ruled case of suicide

news@joplinglobe.com The Joplin Globe Thu Jun 21, 2012, 11:53 PM CDT

The death of a 57-year-old man whose body was found early Thursday inside a Joplin home has been ruled a suicide.

Police officers conducting a well-being check at 12:06 a.m. discovered Donald F. Bigbee Jr. deceased at 903 W. Ninth St.

Jasper County Coroner Rob Chappel said an autopsy conducted in Springfield determined that Bigbee died of loss of blood from multiple cut wounds to his neck and torso. Joplin police said there were no signs of foul play, and Chappel has ruled the death a suicide.

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