DEMAND COLUMBUS PD PROPERLY INVESTIGATE THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF KEITH MICHAEL BUXTON

Innocent until proven guilty. This is the bedrock of the American justice system. But is there reasonable doubt that this is not the case for all Americans?

On January 17th, 2018, Keith Michael Buxton was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head. The detective assigned to the case told the family it was self-inflicted. In our hearts, we knew this couldn't be true; however, when we asked who the suspects were, the detective said, "[Keith] was a big guy. No one could have done that to him."

Though we were in agony to hear Keith had been in such a dark place and had failed to reach out to us in his time of need, our family chose to put our trust in the professionals, and grieved Keith's death as a suicide until evidence presented itself which caused us to question the manner in which Keith died.

Keith's death has shaken Columbus. Anyone who knew Keith knows the love he had for life and the overwhelming love he has for his children. Hundreds of people have reached out to us, confused and outraged by Keith's death, and told us they know Keith would never have done this to himself; they know he would never have chosen to leave his babies.

Though it is comforting to know we are not the only ones who believe Keith wouldn't have left his children of his own free will, it was only after new evidence surfaced, evidence that proves someone was involved in Keith's death, that we began to allow ourselves the hope that our hearts might be right. We just needed more evidence to convince our heads.

The investigation is still open; however, the detective wasn't investigating any further than his initial speculation, because, as he said, when detectives don't see physical evidence that suggests foul play, they "do not investigate [the death] as a homicide."

In this way, the detective failed Keith by failing to properly investigate his death.

Standard procedure is that all suicides are investigated as a homicide.

As such, there should have been an autopsy.

Another point of concern is that they did not test Keith's hands for gunpowder residue, nor the hands of the person who discovered his body.

On the basis of Keith's appearance, the detective assigned to the case walked into Keith's house, where his soul had been ripped from his body, and proclaimed an innocent man guilty of a crime he did not commit: Suicide.

But the truth always wants to be revealed, and the truth continued to show itself in undeniable ways.

As new evidence was revealed, we shared it with the homicide detective assigned to the case. He admitted he was surprised by the evidence we submitted because it proves this was not a simple open-closed case. The evidence is there and is easy to find for those who are seeking the truth and not merely seeking information to support their confirmation bias.

It is our hope with this petition to raise enough awareness and outrage that the Columbus Police Department feels compelled to resume the investigation into Keith's death and to give him the proper investigation his life deserves.

Keith did not take his own life.

But who will speak for the dead since they cannot speak for themselves?

Innocent until proven guilty: Only on this side of life and only if you are on the right side of privilege.

If you would like to see justice for Keith, we request your support in this petition. Please, join your voice with ours and sign this petition.

God bless you!