Found Deceased AL - Major Bashinsky, 63, Mountain Brook, 3 March 2010

[BhamAdGal]

Could the fact that it is "tax time" have contributed to Major's emotional distress or his murderer's motive/urgency to action?

[gnomony]

Originally Posted by elainebenice

Sloan, if you are reading this please know that we got your point (I think) and it only undermines your credibility to continue this posthumous roast/outing of your brother.

I appreciate Sloan's speaking his truth. Seems like there's a cultural impulse to cover things up in certain sections of Birmingham society. I prefer radical honesty (although I often don't have the courage to practice it).

[eyes4crime]

Originally Posted by southerngirl

http://goodmorningfloridakeys.com/?m=201003

Sloan writes this morning his cousin was once the manager of Highland's Golf Course and told him, "For the record there is no way the body could have been there several days, without being seen because Hooters had golf tourney there Sat and had over 120 people going by that pond every 3 minutes."

It does appear Major was somewhere for 12 days before he turned up dead.

Sloan thinks he knows what triggered Major's "soul response" to take his own life but is not ready to publish it yet.

BBM
Its been said Major was somewhat obsessive-compulsive about his life, dinner at the same time every day, office, work, etc.

Taking 12 days to ponder suicide and ending up in a pond at a golf course you don't belong seems haphazard to me. How convenient there is no suicide note - you would expect a person like Major to go overboard with written explanations and reasons. I think this better explains the person who did this.

Prior to his disappearance Major wasn't observed acting strange, secretive, angry, or depressed. Nor was he tying up frayed ends regarding finances, paperwork, marriage, and/or children. If an obsessive person took 12 days before doing himself in, I doubt he/she would sit around in a locked room waiting to surprise everyone with death.

The letters are all too obvious as is his disappearance. My belief from the beginning is that he was murdered by a person who is not a stickler for detail, nor by a person ruminating about Major's final appearance in life. There is a message somewhere, but I don't know what it is. MOO JMHO etc

[bhammom]

Regarding a final message - his wife said on the news last week that a note was in a bottle tied to his waist - but she didn't know what it said.

[Texas Mist]

Originally Posted by bhammom

Channel 6 TV news at 6pm said coroner is still trying to determine cause of death. Results should come later in the week.

Odd that they're still trying to determine COD -- unless they are waiting on tox screen results before they make their final determination....I wonder if they are actually trying to decide MOD....the media is so prone to mis-reporting.


Also, found another interview w/ Sloan the brother

http://www.cbs42.com/mostpopular/sto...J3mdvFQIQ.cspx

[eyes4crime]

Can't help but add: If person is going to suicide and make it look like a murder - why not suicide and make it look like an accident? Tripping and falling across the train tracks is far more explainable as an accident than hiding for 12 days and ending up in some insignificant pond with an explanation of murder.

It's almost a though someone was hired to do Major in and given a few unimportant facts about who and what he is all about. Seems very careless and in my opinion - haphazard! MOO

[Kateyes]

Just wanted to add that I live in Birmingham, and it is very quiet on the subject of Major Bashinsky's death. Waiting to hear from the coroner later this week. I do agree with eyes4crime that the circumstances surrounding his death are not consistent with someone who has been obsessive-compulsive committing suicide. My own husband is somewhat obsessive-compulsive about similar things that Major was - eating at regular times, keeping records of everything meticulously, etc. (Still can't figure out how my husband's home office can be so messy ...) If something happened to my husband at his own hand (heaven forbid) all of the details would be neatly sewn up - including notes to me as to where I could find important papers etc. IF his death was a suicide then Major acted out of character,JMO. I find it doubtful it was suicide, but the homicide theory has so many weird nuances - very strange. I hope this is solved soon.

[merryjan]

I live in Birmingham, and have been hearing lots of gossip about this case. One issue is that people are very confused about what they have read, not read, heard, not heard. It is a very bizarre case, and what is more bizarre is that there still has not been a cause of death reported. The sooner that we hear the cause of death, the better. I can say that peope do not necessarily believe that the wife had anything to do with it, but the now infamous photograph of her in the paper, arms crossed, etc... left a 'bad taste' in the mouths of many.

[merryjan]

This is all second hand, of course, but what I have been hearing is that it was murder( PI friend of a friend), and that he was actually in the location where he was found for at least a week. Apparently, he WAS in a bag originally, but it came apart, thus he floated up. This also explains to me why it was first reported that he was in a bag, and then the media backed up and said that he was not in a bag. Think that there was an 'oops' moment, and that there is A LOT not being reported now.

[Kateyes]

Originally Posted by merryjan

This is all second hand, of course, but what I have been hearing is that it was murder( PI friend of a friend), and that he was actually in the location where he was found for at least a week. Apparently, he WAS in a bag originally, but it came apart, thus he floated up. This also explains to me why it was first reported that he was in a bag, and then the media backed up and said that he was not in a bag. Think that there was an 'oops' moment, and that there is A LOT not being reported now.

Welcome merryjan! Thanks for jumping right in. I too had heard the gossip about the bag last week. I did not post because I had not way of knowing the degree of truth in what I was told, as I got this tidbit about 4th or 5th person from the supposed source. But what you said matches what I was told, so I am more convinced the infor I received was correct. And that would help explain the question so many have as to where was Major (or his body) during the interim before he was found. The letters about the dividends bother me, not due to the content of the letters,but because it makes a stronger case for a premeditated act of murder. I fully believe the letters were meant to point away from the real killer. More and more it seems someone plotted to kill Major Bashinsky. I agree that LE knows more than is being said - this has turned into a real "whodunit".

[elainebenice]

Originally Posted by gnomony

I appreciate Sloan's speaking his truth. Seems like there's a cultural impulse to cover things up in certain sections of Birmingham society. I prefer radical honesty (although I often don't have the courage to practice it).

My criticism of Sloan has nothing at all to do with his honesty or the city I live in, rather its his complete lack of discretion in the way he has chosen to speak "his truth." In my opinion, there is a cultural impulse to cover up information that is embarassing or harmful in ALL human cultures b/c its a self-preservation reaction if nothing else, but that has nothing to do with my criticism of Sloan and his blog posts. My critcism stems from what is, in my opinion, an adult uncle putting himself and his feelings over those of his brother's children. Like I posted previously, Major's children already knew what type of father he was to them before Sloan made the unilateral decision to post his perception of their relationships on his blog for God and everybody to read. You can't convince me that Sloan's decision to share this information on his blog at this point in time provides even the slightest benefit to Major's kids. It only heaps anxiety and embarassment onto the myriad of emotions they were already dealing with. Everyone must mourn and heal in their own way and on their own timeline. It is selfish of Sloan to feel that he is entitled to impose himself into the lives of others in such a way that interferes with this mourning process, especially the very beginning of the process. I'm also a fan of brutal honesty, but I'm an even bigger fan of mature adults understanding the proper time and place for honesty when dealing with children and events that will shape the rest of their lives.

[gnomony]

Originally Posted by elainebenice

You can't convince me that Sloan's decision to share this information on his blog at this point in time provides even the slightest benefit to Major's kids. It only heaps anxiety and embarassment onto the myriad of emotions they were already dealing with.

No one could convince me, either (except to the extent that Sloan's revelations might speed resolution of the case). But most of the stuff I read on Websleuths provides no benefit to the kids, either.

How come it's all right for us to speculate on the wife's demeanor or the son's involvement, but not all right for Sloan to write what he writes? I think it's ironic for him to be condemned on Websleuths for publishing speculation and family skeletons. That's what we do! (The only difference between our speculation and his is that he has greater knowledge of what he's talking about.)

[gnomony]

Sloan's latest: http://goodmorningfloridakeys.com/?m=20100324

[merryjan]

Kateyes, I have been thinking about the letters, and all that I have 'heard' in regard to them. Just something that I was thinking about this morning..... Major has continually been referred to as an 'heir' to the Golden Flake fortune; however, it has been made clear that is not the case(by his family). His stepmother is the 'heir', made by Major's late father. Up until 5 years ago, when his father died, I would bet that his children(children of Sloan Sr.) assumed that they would come into a considerable inheritance. That did not happen. Imagine the anger and resentment towards the stepmother?! Considering the content of the letters, could it not be a direct statement against his stepmother?
Perhaps the financial and social pressure of raising a family with an 'image' to uphold was too much for him? Most men his age are retired; I would imagine that he was working for a reason. Let's not forget that many have lost a lot of money in the market in recent years. It takes a lot of money to live his family's lifestyle. Just my thoughts this morning.

[merryjan]

just reported al.com that divers today found toyota car keys, scissors, and tape in pond.

[Texas Mist]

Originally Posted by merryjan

just reported al.com that divers today found toyota car keys, scissors, and tape in pond.

Thanks for the update merryjan....al.com has updated website with that info too.


By Carol Robinson -- The Birmingham News
March 24, 2010, 8:30AM
Investigators this morning found a set of Toyota car keys, a pair of scissors and a roll of tape in the pond at Highland Park Golf Course where the body of a missing Mountain Brook man was discovered earlier this month.


http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/03/...stigation.html

One of the comments to article makes sense...why not just drain the pond?

ETA: *rumor alert* -- one of the comments claim coroner ruled suicide. (FWIW)

[Texas Mist]

Hmm...guess it wasn't a rumor.

Jeffco Coroner: Evidence looks like Bashinsky Suicide

Last Update: 9:45 am

The Jefferson County Coroner tells CBS 42 News that all evidence points toward suicide in the case of Major Bashinsky. They are still investigating but it looks like a self inflicted gunshot wound.

http://www.cbs42.com/content/localne...m6Fi6TOPg.cspx

ETA:

After finding more evidence at the pond today, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has ruled Bashinsky’s death a suicide.

Deputy Coroner Pat Curry says the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

http://www2.nbc13.com/vtm/news/local...y_case/140102/

[merryjan]

just read as well about the confirmation of suicide. Hopefully the family will have some sort of 'closure' in this very sad situation.

[BhamAdGal]

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/03/...ok_lawyer.html

Ruled a suicide????? Where was he for 12 days then?

[bhammom]

Where was he for 12 days? That is my thought also. If he planned all this did he pack a bag? Where did he stay and sleep? The area between where his car was found and where he was eventually found has a lot of people coming and going. After he went missing and all the signs were up I would think if ANYONE saw him they would call the police. It all still doesn't make much sense. Did he have any close friend he could stay with during this time? But you would think a close friend would talk him out of suicide. Again it doesn't make any sense.

[gnomony]

Well, this was quite the Rube Goldberg suicide.

[Texas Mist]

Originally Posted by bhammom

Where was he for 12 days? That is my thought also. If he planned all this did he pack a bag? Where did he stay and sleep? The area between where his car was found and where he was eventually found has a lot of people coming and going. After he went missing and all the signs were up I would think if ANYONE saw him they would call the police. It all still doesn't make much sense. Did he have any close friend he could stay with during this time? But you would think a close friend would talk him out of suicide. Again it doesn't make any sense.

And why take scissors & a roll of tape with you to the pond after hiding out for days??

If the suicide MOD stands, I will forever wonder about this case....I cannot recall another one where there are so many strange 'setup' details surrounding someone who took their own life.

[Chili Fries]

Originally Posted by Texas Mist

And why take scissors & a roll of tape with you to the pond after hiding out for days??

If the suicide MOD stands, I will forever wonder about this case....I cannot recall another one where there are so many strange 'setup' details surrounding someone who took their own life.

There was the Kentucky census worker who hanged himself and tried to make it look like he was murdered by someone angry with the government.

What's bad about taking your life this way is that suspicion can be cast on innocent people and an innocent person could even be arrested for murder. But obviously Major wasn't thinking rationally when he chose this path.

[southerngirl]

Originally Posted by Texas Mist

And why take scissors & a roll of tape with you to the pond after hiding out for days??

If the suicide MOD stands, I will forever wonder about this case....I cannot recall another one where there are so many strange 'setup' details surrounding someone who took their own life.

I think he stood in the pond and used the scissors to cut the duct tape and rope. He placed the Golden Flakes label in his mouth and taped his mouth shut with the duct tape. He wrapped rope around parts of his body and loosely bound his hands together. Then he shot himself in the left temple. The gun was recovered. He is right-handed, according to Sloan. The left temple gunshot was designed to throw off any suicide suspicions. Had he played out this scenerio out of water, the gun may have been found in his hand or in a location that clearly showed he shot himself. But in water, the gun and/or body probably floated away some.

Major obviously gave this plan some forethought.

My only questions now are, why did he do this, and when did he do this....

[elainebenice]

Originally Posted by gnomony

No one could convince me, either (except to the extent that Sloan's revelations might speed resolution of the case). But most of the stuff I read on Websleuths provides no benefit to the kids, either.

How come it's all right for us to speculate on the wife's demeanor or the son's involvement, but not all right for Sloan to write what he writes? I think it's ironic for him to be condemned on Websleuths for publishing speculation and family skeletons. That's what we do! (The only difference between our speculation and his is that he has greater knowledge of what he's talking about.)

Its this "difference" that makes it ok (in my opinion) for us to speculate (w/o malice of course) on any of the circumstances surrounding this or any other unsolved murder and it not ok (in my opinion) for Sloan to publish AS FACT personal family details that are not known to the general public for no purpose other than personal satisfaction. Sloan isn't speculating in his writings as we do here. He is stating them as absolute facts and he is a person who is in a verified position to know these details. If he posted the exact same things here in this thread as he did on his blog w/o any additional justification, I would have the exact same opinion. On Websleuths we almost exclusively discuss facts/circumstances surrounding crimes that we gather from news reports and other sources. It is rare to see new, possibly factual "revelations" about cases being made for the first time on this site (see Abraham Shakespeare thread for one of those rare times)

and don't forget the minor detail of him being an uncle to these kids and that carrying some type of moral duty in itself.....