Woman's death ruled suicide; family calls for investigation

LYNNFIELD, Mass. -- A local woman vacationing with her husband in the Virgin Islands was found hanged in her hotel room.

The medical examiner ruled Joan Baruffaldi's death a suicide, but her family has come forward claiming it was suspicious.

They are now calling on investigators to take a second look because they do not believe the facts add up.

Baruffaldi and her husband Robert Harris who were married for two years had a history of domestic violence. Police were recently called to their home.

Family members urged Baruffaldi not to go on the Virgin Island vacation out of fear that Harris may hurt her.

The day after they arrived in St. John, Harris called home saying that his wife had been found hanging in their hotel bathroom.

"The cause of death was strangulation by suicide," said Donald McNamee, the family's attorney.

The family is now pursuing a court order to have another autopsy done. They fear that Harris will have his wife cremated, destroying any evidence that may be left.

Court papers reveal that the couple could be heard arguing the night Baruffaldi was found. She was found "propped up against the bathroom wall with her feet on the floor and the strap from a bathrobe around her neck. The bar from the shower curtain reportedly did not come out of the wall," according to court documents. 

"Those shower curtains, bars are designed to pull out of the wall at 60 pounds and this woman weight approximately 125 pounds," McNamee said.

Police had been to the couple's Lynnfield home in October. Shortly after, Baruffaldi filed a restraining order. It said she accused her husband of having an affair. She wrote, "He attacked me in the downstairs bedroom. He has approached me violently in the past, and I am in fear of my safety."

Authorities in the Virgin Islands said that Baruffaldi hanged herself, but they said the case is open and they would not object to a second autopsy.

The family was in court Monday to ask for a second autopsy.

"Second autopsies are inherently suspect for a number of reasons, so it's just not the right thing to do," said Kevin Reddington, Harris' attorney.

Baruffaldi's husband had no comment on his wife's death. He reportedly ask the court for the case to be dismissed.

The court did not release a decision on Monday.

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