Pebbles McCroskey, 40, of Canton, Ohio, died on May 23, 2015, from a gunshot wound to the head. Her husband, Jessie O. McCroskey, 37, went to Canton police headquarters the same morning and confessed to shooting her, saying he did so because she was suffering from late-stage lymphoma. Family members disputed that account, saying her cancer had been in remission for more than three years.

An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound. Jessie McCroskey was arrested and initially charged with felonious assault and weapons offenses; he was later charged with murder. At his court appearance he pleaded guilty to murder and a firearm specification and was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison, with 15 years for the murder count and three years for the gun specification. Family members described Pebbles as a loving mother and wife and expressed grief and disbelief at the circumstances.

What information might help clarify the conflicting accounts about Pebbles McCroskey’s health and the events that led to her death?