AUTOPSY ON BECK WAS INCONCLUSIVE.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Staff Writer

STEVENSON RANCH - The autopsy on James Beck, who gunned down sheriff's Deputy Jake Kuredjian last summer, failed to determine a cause of death, although there is evidence he did not die in the fire that leveled his house, a coroner's report said.

A lack of carbon monoxide in Beck's blood and absence of soot in his windpipe indicate he died before fire consumed his body, Craig Harvey, operations chief for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, said Friday.

But the remains were so charred no conclusions could be drawn, according to the autopsy report.

``It is frustrating that you can't close the case out with a specific finding,'' Harvey said. ``People are always going to wonder, 'Did he commit suicide? Did the police shoot him? Did he die in the fire?' I wish we could answer those questions.'' Beck, a disgraced police officer who had held odd jobs over the years, opened fire Aug. 31 when federal agents, with back-up from Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's deputies, knocked on his door to serve a warrant. Beck had been accused by neighbors of impersonating a police officer.

Kuredjian, a motorcycle deputy, responded, and was fatally shot when he fired at Beck from behind a parked car.

A shootout ensued in the four-hour standoff, which ended when the two- story Brooks Circle home caught fire.

As the house burned, the sounds of exploding ammunition could be heard. Witnesses said they heard a distinct gunshot as the flames enveloped Beck's garage.

One of several X-rays conducted as part of the autopsy revealed a projectile in Beck's left hip, according to the autopsy.

``Death from a gunshot wound cannot be excluded, nor can one exclude other forms of inflicted trauma,'' the medical examiner's report said.

DNA samples were used to identify Beck's body, which eventually was claimed by his family.