No Carradine suicide, expert says

Carradine's brothers, Keith and Robert Carradine, each read part of a prepared statement to reporters at a Los Angeles hotel on Thursday morning. In their first appearance since their older brother was found hanging in a Bangkok hotelroom closet last week, they thanked supporters and asked for privacy.

"This is a devastating loss for our family, and we greatly appreciate the compassion pouring in from all over the world," Keith Carradine said.

They also released a statement by Dr Michael Baden of New York that indicated that a second autopsy determined Carradine had not killed himself.

"However, to reach a final determination as to the cause and the manner of death we must wait for further information from Thailand as to the scene findings and the completion of the crimelaboratory and toxicology studies that are still being performed," Baden's statement said.

Reached by phone after the morning briefing, Baden said he expected to receive more information from Thai authorities in a week or two and stressed that the information at hand was incomplete. Baden did not elaborate on how suicide had been ruled out.

"The autopsy is only part of the analysis," he said.

Meanwhile, the Thai chief investigator, Pol MajGeneral Amnuay Nimmano, has not yet commented on either Keith Carradine's or Baden's statements.

He said that Thai police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation had used similar scrutiny methods in probing the case but their theories on the cause of the death "may have been different." He did not elaborate.

He said the Thai police investigation was ongoing and would be completed in one month's time. He said the FBI agents "had been satisfied" with Thai police's work and progress in the case.

Amnuay, a deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau commander, said the investigation had to answer all questions regarding all clues in the room in which Carradine was found dead last Wednesday.

"We need to find out who smoked cigarettes and left their butts. We need to check all DNA stains found. We need to reach a conclusion on the conditions of the body. We need to find any trace of drugs or poisons in the body," he added.

Amnuay said information on Carradine's state of mind, maturity and possible personal problems or even secrets would also be identified and analysed if there were any.

In the meantime, Robert Carradine asked the public and press for patience and time to allow the family to grieve.

"Until we have all of the pending results of the investigation we respectfully ask ... that we be allowed to lay our beloved brother, husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather to rest in peace and with dignity," Robert Carradine said.

Rampant speculation about the actor's death has swirled since a chambermaid at the luxury Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel in Bangkok discovered his body hanging in the closet of his room June 4. A Thai newspaper published a graphic photo of the death scene that police have said appears to be a leaked forensics image.

Thai police initially said they suspected Carradine's death was a suicide but later conceded it could have been accidental. Their description, that the actor's body was found nude, with ropes around his neck, wrist and genitals, fuelled speculation that he had been killed while engaging in a dangerous sex practice called autoerotic asphyxiation.

Thai authorities said on June 5 that it would take about three weeks for the results of their autopsy to be released.

Medical examiners in the United States and Canada generally classify autoerotic asphyxiation deaths as accidental.

Keith Carradine last week asked the FBI to take a role, and Thai authorities later said they would allow FBI agents to observe their investigation but not take an active role. FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said earlier this week that the agency would not make any more comments about its role in the Carradine investigation but that agents stationed in Thailand had a good relationship with local authorities.

Agents typically only get involved in the deaths of US citizens abroad when foul play is involved, she said.

Others who knew the 72yearold actor have said they suspect foul play was involved. Keith and Robert Carradine on Thursday urged everyone to wait until the investigation had been concluded.

"Once the investigation is fully completed and definitive conclusions have been reached, we will address the findings with the public," Robert Carradine said.

Both Keith and Robert Carradine shared the screen with their brother, a prolific TV and film actor. David Carradine rose to prominence for his role on the "Kung Fu" series in the 1970s and experienced a resurgence in popularity after his role in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" movies earlier this decade.

The family's statement did not indicate the location of his body or offer any information about funeral arrangements. They did not take questions on Thursday after reading the statements.