The question is how you determine the cause of death for all 33 of them without a single autopsy beyond reasonable doubt. It's not gossiping.
1) please remember these were beautiful people with a passion for diving who were snatch away from their family and friends in the prime of their life by a horrible event that their loved ones haven't even begun to process. Many if them likely have friends on the board.
Hopefully, this answers your question and we can put this one to bed.
2) A "Traditional" post mortem exam tupically has very specific steps starting with a information gathering re: the circumstances of the case including who reported or found the person, was the death witnessed, was decedent under doctors care for a life threatening or chronic medical condition that might explain their death. If it is anything other than clearly natural causes, many states require an autopsy. Traditionallyt that includes an ME or Coroner collecting the remains at the scene. Police and a coroner or ME taking photographs at the scene and a during the exam. The ME carefully examines the remains for trace evidence, clipping fingernails, hair, blood Danes. Then checking inside clothing pockets meticulously, photographing and cataloging it, carefully washing the remains. Many larger jurisdictions require the primary police investigator to be present and witness the autopsy. You get the idea. There is a process, and in this case, much of this not only would not apply, it would not likely be probative. They didn't say they are not doing any post mortem exam. They just didn't go into graphic detail explaining how they arrived at that conclusion of smoke inhalation, for two reasons. They are protecting the families from here and forever reading graphic details about it in the paper, and they have to protect the integrity of the ongoing in investigation. That said, they can tell a lot about cause with what they have. Manner will be based on totality of investigations.
3) Medical examiner determines cause of death based on medical examination, and manner based on additional law enforcement investigative findings on cause and origin of fire.
5) Beyond a reasonable doubt only applies if a death is determined to be caused by criminal conduct, at which point the State of California has to prove to a jury that someone is criminally responsible for these deaths, beyond a reasonable doubt.
6) In the event of a civil suit for wrongful death, the plaintiff only needs to prove to a jury that is more likely than not that the boat owner, cell phone maker, boat manufacturer, or whomever they sue is responsible for the death if their loved one. That standard is 51%.
