Attorney Barry Levin's Death Ruled Suicide

L O S   A N G E L E S, July 9 -- Attorney Barry Levin, who helped handle ErikMenendez's murder defense and more recently represented actorRobert Blake, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,an autopsy showed Sunday.

Levin, 54, reportedly upset over a debilitating illness, wasfound slumped over the steering wheel of his car Saturdayafternoon. The former Vietnam War paratrooper was parked at aveterans cemetery.

The autopsy confirmed preliminary findings that Levin committedsuicide, Los Angeles County Coroner's Lt. Fred Corral said.

Levin was a co-counsel for Menendez, who was sentenced to lifewithout parole in 1996 with brother Lyle for killing their parents.Levin recently represented Blake, star of the Baretta TVseries, whose wife's murder is unsolved.

He was also the lead defense attorney in a case stemming fromalleged corruption in the city's police department.

Levin's brother-in-law and law partner, Ron Dorfman, said Levinsuffered from Gaucher's disease, an inherited enzyme-deficiencydisorder that causes victims to bleed and bruise easily. He was inconstant severe pain.

Levin's wife, Debbie, took him Saturday morning to his office sohe could tie up some loose ends at work, Dorfman said. Afterreturning home, Levin left the house in his car.

Levin's wife became worried and called police. His car was foundabout 2 p.m. at Los Angeles National Cemetery.

FBI agent Richard Garcia said Saturday that investigatorsdiscovered "some evidence of a note." On Sunday, FBI spokesmanMatthew McLaughlin declined to elaborate. The agency isinvestigating because the death occurred on federal property.