His body was found in the Loquat Avenue cottage of his other brother, John, about 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 28, but he had been dead for some time, Rob Earp said. His brother said he last saw him about 4:30 p.m. the day before. Though his brother’s vertigo was bothering him, they made plans to see each other the following morning.

“There was no indication he was going to do this,’’ Rob Earp said.

The deputy chief medical examiner, Emma Lew, was troubled by the trajectory of the bullet, Earp said. And the mortician confirmed that the path of the bullet was odd for a suicide. Rob Earp said he was told by the medical examiner that the bullet entered his skull from the back of his head and exited through the top. Rob Earp also said the medical examiner said his brother, who was right-handed, had fired the weapon with the thumb of his left hand. The gun was on the bed on his left side. Also on the bed: a gun-cleaning kit.

“There was no blood on his face. The sheets were completely soaked in blood, but he was more laying on the sheets and his body was in a position as if he was trying to stand up. His feet were almost on the floor and his hands were directly in front of him,” Rob Earp said.

Harris, the attorney, said he wouldn’t be surprised if Earp had killed himself as a result of the pressure of working for the agency. Harris, who has advised federal agents for 30 years, said it was “absurd” and irresponsible for the IRS to leave Earp undercover for such a long period of time, particularly in an area like the Keys.

“Working undercover could drive you nuts, and keeping him down in the Keys that long is against all common sense and policy,’’ Harris said.

Police “have no reason to suspect foul play,” said Miami P.D. spokesman Freddie Cruz. The initial police reports conclude that it was a suicide, but indicate that the case remains open.

Rob Earp said police should have investigated his brother’s death more thoroughly, given the fact that he confronted so many dangerous threats to his life while undercover. Rob Earp and Londono both said they were barely questioned by police.

Cruz said everything has been done by the book.

But Rob Earp said his brother planned to retire in a matter of weeks. It makes no sense, he said, that Patrick would have taken his own life so close to retirement.

Said the brother: “It was like police almost assumed from the start that he killed himself.’’