FAIRHOPE, Alabama—Fairhope police and the county district attorney’s office have concluded that the March 10 gunshot death of Fairhope resident Hannah Rogers was from a self-inflicted wound.

“We have no evidence to indicate that Ms. Roger’s death was preplanned or deliberate,” former Police Chief Bill Press said in a March 19 Fairhope Police Department news release. “We did, however, have a blood alcohol level above .20 at the time of death; physical evidence from the crime scene; and a number of statements as a result of interviews and interrogations.  As a result of all the physical and testimonial evidence obtained and evaluated in this case, we along with the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office have concluded that this was a self-inflicted gunshot wound that resulted in Ms. Rogers’ death.”

Police met with the family of Rogers last Wednesday and relayed the findings of the investigation to them, the release stated.

“The preliminary investigation involved the Fairhope Police Department, Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office, and the Baldwin County Coroner’s Office,” Press said in the release. “Forensic evidence was collected and ultimately sent to the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Crime Laboratory, Alabama Department of Forensic Science, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Alabama Computer Forensic Laboratory for evaluation.

“It is important to note that all major cases, such as this one, are worked by the Fairhope Police Department in concert with a Baldwin County District Assistant Attorney by our side.  This is done to ensure that the integrity of the case is never compromised, up to and including any criminal court proceedings.  In Ms. Rogers’ case, this included, but was not limited to, obtaining and executing 13 search warrants for cellular phones, vehicles, the crime scene, computers and notepads; and interviewing witnesses and forwarding numerous pieces of physical evidence to the various laboratories above for processing.”

The Rogers case gained prominence this past June when friends and family of Rogers marched in downtown Fairhope to bring awareness to her case and demand answers about her March gunshot death, which had been ruled a suicide by the county coroner.

On March 10, Rogers was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the head at the home she and boyfriend shared on County Road 13.

The group’s march took place at the same time as one by Willie Foster, who had called publicly for the ouster of Press, and would wage an apparently one-man campaign for the election of a new council that would replace him. Owner of the Biscuit King restaurant, Foster had criticized Press for a number of firings of police personnel during the first six months of the year.

Foster had walked the streets of Fairhope earlier in the year with a sandwich board that said “Fire the Chief.” His campaign encouraged voters to get rid of the chief by defeating four of the City Council members who appointed Press in 2009. A new majority on the council could fire the chief, he said.

At one point, the Rogers’ demonstration assembled in front of campaign headquarters for Mayor Tim Kant, located across the street from the police station.

The facts of any coordination of the two marches is in dispute, but a member of the Rogers’ group said later that their efforts were not political like those of Curtis, but instead were meant to obtain more information about Rogers’ death.

All of the council members who had voted for Press’ as chief in 2009 were defeated in the Sept. 11municipal election.

Following that election, Press resigned from his police chief position, which became effective last Friday, two days after the Rogers’ news release was issued. Press said he resigned because he expected the new council would not rehire him, and he wanted to ensure a smooth transition for the selection of a new police chief by the council.

“This was a very emotional case, as it should be, for the entire community,” Press said in the March 19 release. “For this reason alone, our hearts and prayers extend not only to Hannah’s family and friends, but to all concerned.”