Death Attended by Kevorkian Is Ruled a Homicide

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — The latest death to take place in the presence of Jack Kevorkian was ruled a homicide Saturday by a medical examiner.

Nicholas John Loving, 27, had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative nerve disorder known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was the 23rd person known to die in the retired pathologist’s presence, and the youngest.

An autopsy showed Loving’s illness was not yet terminal, and he was not physically capable of causing his own death by carbon monoxide poisoning, said Dr. Ljubisa J. Dragovic, the Oakland County medical examiner.

“Someone had to make significant preparations for him,” Dragovic said.

Oakland County prosecutor Richard Thompson said Dragovic’s ruling will be just one factor in deciding whether to bring charges against Kevorkian. Sheriff’s officials would not give any information.