Balloons in colors that Pete Chappell cherished — black, blue, and white — soared into the sky from the courtyard of Underwood Tower. His family, clad in matching T-shirts designed for the occasion, along with a group of their former neighbors, gathered in the sweltering heat to release the balloons into the bright August blue. “Holla, holla!” they shouted to one another, celebrating a life that had brought them together.
While officially named Pedro Chappell, everyone called him Pete. His family referred to him simply as Pete, while his friends affectionately claimed him as “Holla,” inspired by his signature phrase, “I’ll holla at ya later.” As the eldest of seven, he often stepped in to take care of his younger siblings, embodying a sense of responsibility that persisted into adulthood. He was always available to assist his sisters with moving or cleaning tasks. His niece expressed that Pete filled the father figure void in her life.
However, with Pete’s sudden absence, his family grappled with the painful question of why he had died. After two months of seeking answers, these questions became increasingly burdensome. Pete resided in Underwood Tower, a public housing building in central Omaha, where police discovered his lifeless body on July 3. The police report attributed his death to natural causes, and the coroner opted against conducting an autopsy.
Pete joined the thousands of Nebraskans who passed away without medical supervision and without an autopsy in the previous year. An alarming statistic reveals that around 87% of unattended deaths in Nebraska are not subjected to an autopsy. In a unique situation limited to Nebraska, when a medical professional does not label a cause of death, the responsibility shifts to the local county attorney, a role typically associated with prosecuting criminal cases. The training and resources available to these attorneys differ vastly, with some lacking adequate preparation altogether.
This antiquated system has faced criticism from various experts and local officials since 2008. In that time, Nebraska’s unattended autopsy rate has decreased significantly, with about half of the cases not involving autopsies, according to a review of mortality data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pete’s family’s plight was heightened by the coroner’s refusal to perform an autopsy, leaving them with lingering confusion about his passing.
Surveillance footage captured Pete stumbling as he fell in a parking lot, likely during one of his final public appearances. Witnesses described how he staggered before returning to his apartment. Neighbors noticed a running faucet for days after, but they didn’t anticipate that the person they cared for would not respond to their concern. The incident unfolded with Pete’s body being removed from unit 419 on a gurney.
“I think we have to go eventually, but the way everything unfolded just doesn’t make sense,” commented Denece Chappell, Pete’s sister. In fact, her last phone conversation with her brother recorded just before his death revealed excitement and good health as they discussed their upcoming road trip. This absence of signs made the news of his passing even more shocking for his family, especially for Denece, who felt immense sorrow, anger, and confusion.
Within hours of discovering Pete’s body, police officers and the acting coroner arrived at the conclusion of natural causes without conducting a thorough examination. In the region surrounding Underwood Tower, autopsies are relatively routine, but there is still significant variance across the state. Some areas conduct autopsies on roughly 16% of unattended deaths, while rural counties often fall below 7%.
These disparities may stem from limited resources, including funding and proximity to morgues. The county attorney’s philosophy toward coroner duties can also drastically affect these rates. Some attorneys, such as Patrick Condon from Lancaster County, prioritize criminal implications when deciding to perform an autopsy, while others, like George Vinton from Hooker County, have conducted very few, only delegating responsibilities to local authorities.
Understanding the cause of death is essential for family members seeking closure, and in some instances, autopsies reveal critical medical information that could benefit survivors. Public health also relies on autopsy data to shape policies that may prevent future fatalities.
Following the July 4 holiday, Denece and her family mobilized, searching for answers regarding Pete’s death. Their journey began at Good Shepherd Funeral Home, but they were met with bureaucratic hurdles when trying to view Pete’s body. They attempted to request an autopsy, facing indifference from authorities.
To Denece, the initial explanation of “natural causes” felt inadequate, raising suspicions of bias due to her brother’s socioeconomic background. Conversations among county officials revealed mixed sentiments regarding the relationship between a deceased person’s characteristics and the decisions made about autopsies.
Investigating Pete’s final days revealed concerning details. Security footage displayed an unsettling image of him nearly getting hit by a vehicle before he fell in a gas station parking lot. Tenants at Underwood Tower had noticed water running in his apartment long before paramedics arrived, leading them to speculate whether his death occurred before authorities were alerted.
Adding to the mystery, there were peculiar text messages on Pete’s phone from an unidentified number with aggressive tones towards him. And an apparent inaccuracy in police reports raised further questions, particularly regarding the presence of family members at the scene. Miscommunications and assumptions about Pete’s lifestyle influenced the interpretation of his death, yet Denece struggled to reconcile these details.
Months passed, with Denece finding herself entrenched in research about her brother’s death, collecting documents, and replaying events in her mind as she tried to piece together what had happened. The twelve-hour investigation left her overwhelmed and questioning why the burden of discovery fell solely on her.
Nebraska’s system of having county attorneys serve as coroners has garnered criticism and calls for modernization. The state has been slow to adapt, with few reforms initiated over the years, despite awareness of the inadequacies of its system. Legislative attempts to introduce independent medical examiners have been repeatedly halted due to financial concerns.
Denece’s family ultimately chose to have Pete cremated, effectively eliminating the possibility of an autopsy. Coping with unanswered questions regarding a loved one’s death exacerbates grief, leading to unresolved feelings.
As they released balloons, symbolizing their loving remembrance of Pete, his family slowly turned away, returning to their camaraderie yet bearing the weight of unresolved questions. Denece continues to navigate the emotional aftermath, keeping her brother’s ashes close. “There are still so many questions in my mind,” she shared. “I just want to know what really happened.”
