      ACCORDING TO THE INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION:  THE DECEASED WAS AN ELDERLY MALE WHO WAS A RESIDENT OF THE JACKSON HEIGHTS NURSING HOME. HE WAS CHECKED BY THE NURSE ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1996, AT ABOUT 5:30 PM. AT THAT TIME HE WAS ASLEEP, HIS TRACHEOTOMY TUBE IN PLACE. SHE CHECKED ON HIM AT 6:00 AM, AND FOUND THAT THE TUBE HAD BEEN REMOVED AND HE WAS NOT BREATHING. EMERGENCY RESCUE UNITS WERE SUMMONED, RESPONDED AND INITIATED RESUSCITATIVE MEASURES, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO THE EFFORTS AND DEATH WAS PRONOUNCED AT 6:00 PM. 
      HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE DADE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINERS DEPARTMENT FOR PROPER CERTIFICATON. 