Christopher Seward had been consuming large amounts of alcohol Friday night and early Saturday prior to his death, which police are ruling as accidental at this time.

He stabbed himself twice in the chest, the second wound pierced the left ventricle, while talking to Missaukee County Central Dispatch. The knife was found by police in Seward's kitchen.

Missaukee County Sheriff James Bosscher said the incident is "very unusual" and "complicated" but the evidence at the scene verifies an accidental death scenario.

Police believe Seward's actions were an attempt to get a neighbor in trouble.

Seward and the neighbor had an argument over the whereabouts of a bottle of alcohol during which Seward confronted the man with a knife, Bosscher said. Both men returned to their separate apartments.

Seward then called 911 at 1:22 a.m. from his apartment and said the neighbor had stabbed him. During the call, the dispatcher said Seward was relatively calm but as the conversation continues, he began screaming and asking for immediate help. Seward's girlfriend, Jennifer Bittell, who lives at the residence, could be heard screaming in the background and asking Seward why he had done this.

In a statement, Bittell told police Seward was talking to dispatch in the bathroom and then went into the kitchen. She did not observe any blood or stab wounds at that time and there was no one else in the apartment.

When Seward began to scream, she saw him bleeding profusely from the chest area as he ran to the door of the apartment.

Missaukee County deputies, who were first on the scene, attempted to revive Seward. Bosscher said the second wound caused Seward's death in less than two minutes.

The autopsy showed that the wounds were consistent with being self-inflicted. The neighbor has agreed to take a polygraph test, Bosscher said, and it is being scheduled for the near future. Witnesses at the scene said the neighbor was present in his own apartment during the stabbing.

Both Seward and the neighbor had "dealings with the criminal justice system," Bosscher said.

The case remains open until the department receives a few more tests and the polygraph is complete, Bosscher said

Submitted on 03/22/2005

Submitted by: Bill Ziegler
Reference: Cadillac news, 3/22/05

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

Daniel said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
MOre info on this one.

Charles said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
A fuller version of this story, with substantially more information. I think this one may be a contender... though it does need a touch of a rewrite.

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