Miranda M. Hogan - Andrew J. Birch - Records murder

HOGAN, BIRCH

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 7/16/2015 at 21:56:29

Miranda M. Hogan - Andrew J. Birch - Records detail murder-suicide

Death certificates for a man and woman found dead May 1 in a Dubuque home indicate the woman was shot and killed, while the man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Copies of the death certificates obtained Wednesday state that Andrew J. Birch, 27, shot himself twice in the head with a .38-caliber handgun. Miranda M. Hogan, 20, was shot by someone other than herself with the same caliber weapon and died from a "contact gunshot to (her) forehead."

Her manner of death is listed as homicide, while his is suicide, the documents state.

Dubuque police responded to a report of a person down inside 2425 Roosevelt St. at 5:45 p.m. May 1 and found Hogan and Birch dead inside the home. Police were called by a relative of Hogan who said she did not show up for work that day.

Dubuque police gave an initial theory of a murder-suicide as a cause of death, though they would not specify who shot whom. They said a gun was recovered inside the home and that they were confident there was no danger to the public.

Lt. Scott Baxter said Wednesday that the department will not release any more details about the case until final autopsy results are received from the Iowa Medical Examiner's Office in Ankeny. He said investigators submitted additional evidence to the Iowa Criminalistics Laboratory in Ankeny and are waiting on those results as well.

"I know this is frustrating for many ­- especially the families involved - but given our desire and obligation to conduct a proper and thorough investigation, we're not willing to elaborate or officially confirm the circumstances surrounding the deaths," Baxter wrote in an email.

Gwen Hall-Driscoll, coordinator for the Dubuque County Medical Examiner's Office, said the Iowa Medical Examiner's Office fills out death certificates for people who are sent to the state lab for an autopsy. A pathologist with that office could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Birch's family could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Darla Hogan, Miranda Hogan's mother, said the family has been angry and in disbelief over her daughter's death. Darla Hogan said her daughter had dated Birch for about a year but the couple was in the process of breaking up.

"She was moving out on Saturday (May 2), and (Birch) couldn't handle it," Darla Hogan said.

Frederick Hogan, Miranda Hogan's father, said his daughter was a very active person both as a child and an adult. She was in the marching band, a former Girl Scout and a black belt in martial arts.

Miranda Hogan was studying criminal justice and working as a security guard.

"She accomplished more at 20 than most people do at 40," Frederick Hogan said.

He said his daughter was a bit of a tomboy who loved to ride motorcycles, go fishing and do carpentry and automotive repairs. He added that she was a very giving and well-liked person, as shown by the about 1,200 people who attended her funeral services.

He said his family has appreciated the support and kindness they have received in the wake of her death.

"This is the hardest thing we've ever had to go through. I hope we never have to go through it again," Frederick Hogan said.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Thursday, May 21, 2015