*A 44-year-old female detective with the Los Angeles Police Department who was investigating rape allegations against NBA star Derrick Rose died after being found with a gunshot wound on Tuesday.
The death of Nadine Hernandez is being investigated as a suicide, police in Whittier, Calif., said in a news release on Wednesday.
“At this time there are no signs of foul play,” the agency said. “However, this is an ongoing investigation and we will continue to collaborate with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office as part of our investigation.”
The LA Times reports that Hernandez was one of two detectives assigned to the Rose case, and authorities said that she was frequently involved in high-profile sex crime cases.
READ RELATED STORY: Derrick Rose: $21M Rape Lawsuit Begins Jury Selection
Whittier police received a call Tuesday afternoon reporting an attempted suicide in the 8400 block of Via Sierra Ramal, Whittier Lt. Steve Dean said. Hernandez was taken to the hospital where she died at 3:27 p.m., according to Dean and the coroner’s department.
It’s unclear whether her death was a suicide or a homicide, Dean said, noting that “We’re investigating it.”
Although LAPD investigators responded to the suspected suicide call, Whittier police are conducting the investigation, authorities said.
In related news, the judge in Derrick Rose’s case denied his legal team’s request to declare a mistrial. The case will proceed in court.
USA Today reports that last month, Hernandez sent a letter to lawyers representing the alleged victim who accused Rose and two friends of sexually assaulting her where she described the ongoing investigation. The letter was part of another bid by the victim’s legal team to keep her identity secret at trial.
“The ability to offer anonymous to victims of sex crimes is an invaluable investigative aid to investigators as well as a great comfort to victims of crimes of such a sensitive nature,” Hernandez wrote.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Fitzgerald said the alleged victim’s lawyers may have violated the California Rules of Professional Conduct by making the letter public.
Meanwhile, Derrick Rose’s defense is that he’s a victim of a ‘rape’ setup.
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