Psychologist’s Death Remains Undetermined

A forensic psychologist whose testimony helped decide a heated probate case earlier this year was killed in a house fire.  An autopsy has revealed that the 63 year-old psychologist, Christopher Heard, died of smoke inhalation and thermal burns at his residence in Sacramento, California. 

The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office has classified the death as “undetermined” in the final report of investigation.  According to the autopsy report, “Fire Arson Investigator Bryan Thomson stated that he has not been able to determine the source/origin of the fire and will be listing it as Undetermined.  Based on the circumstances and cause of death, the classification of this case will be ‘Undetermined.’”

Heard was a prominent figure in the Sacramento legal community.  In the probate case, his testimony in the Sacramento Superior Court retrial over the estate of Joseph Herb O’Brien played a critical role in Judge Christopher Krueger’s decision to invalidate a verbal deathbed will.  Heard testified that he visited O’Brien two days before the decedent’s death and found him to be “really incoherent.” 

See Andy Furillo, No Determination on Death of Sacramento Psychologist Who Testified In Probate Case, The Sacramento Bee, Dec. 18, 2014.