Old Man Kills his Sick Old Wife (1 Viewer)

[Tom Skerritt]

86yo man shoots his ill 78yo wife because he can no longer afford medications for her various illnesses. He shot her in the head while she slept, called his children to let them know, then calls the authorities to let them know. 

Thoughts?

and Florida

 

[tri-man 47]

I understand the old man's desire to end her suffering.   But while she no longer suffers, the kids have to live with mom's tragic and sudden death for the rest of their lives (what do they tell the grandchildren?).  Sad.

 

[msommer]

Perhaps health care should be free ?

 

[NutterButter]

What were her illnesses and life expectancy?

 

[Bucky86]

Perhaps health care should be free ?

That's crazy talk.

 

[Tom Skerritt]

What were her illnesses and life expectancy?

I cannot link the story right now. But they have not disclosed any illnesses or medications. Dude is being charged with 1st degree pre-meditated murder. 

 

[msommer]

I cannot link the story right now. But they have not disclosed any illnesses or medications. Dude is being charged with 1st degree pre-meditated murder. 

Isn't thst exactly what it is, in terms of the law?

 

[JoeSteeler]

link but not much info

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/elderly-florida-man-claims-he-killed-wife-because-of-medical-costs/

 

[NutterButter]

Totally fine with putting her out of her misery if that was the case.  Unfortunate there wasn't some other means.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Unless the wife wrote a note telling the World or filmed a video telling exactly what would happen then we are left to believe that perhaps the husband acted in a way that were not his wife's wishes. 

Assisted suicide this is not.

If the woman was suffering and he truly did it out of love, my heart goes out but we might have to assume everything he says is true and that makes the story harder to digest. 

I am pro-assist suicide but I'm not so sure this qualifies. You could say anyone was suffering long term, I'm sure doctors can tell police if the wife was terminally ill. That still does not mean the man is innocent. But at 86, I tend to believe him. 

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Brings up a larger point and something all married folks should think about...how much do you want the other person to do in order to save you? When it is time to pull the plug so you don't ruin everyone's life around you? Should you have plans in place decades before you will ever need them?

 

[NutterButter]

I believe in the power of old people love

 

[Braktastic]

This is heart-wrenching stuff; however this guy just found a way around health care and assisted living costs in one fell swoop.  If that's not an indictment of the system, I don't know what is.

 

[Green and Gold]

Wow, didn't even let his kids say goodbye to their mother.  He may think in his own mind that what he did was right, but it wasn't.  He basically killed her because she was too expensive to keep around.  Unless she wanted him to do this, and recorded a video saying it or whatever, it's murder.

 

[Cjw_55106]

By his own admission, she didn't ask him to kill her. No sense in even talking about assisted suicide as this was not the case. 

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Brings up a larger point and something all married folks should think about...how much do you want the other person to do in order to save you? When it is time to pull the plug so you don't ruin everyone's life around you? Should you have plans in place decades before you will ever need them?

I don't even walk down the stairs in front of my wife.

 

[cstu]

Wow, didn't even let his kids say goodbye to their mother.  He may think in his own mind that what he did was right, but it wasn't.  He basically killed her because she was too expensive to keep around.  Unless she wanted him to do this, and recorded a video saying it or whatever, it's murder.

"Hager stated Carolyn had a lot of illnesses and other ailments which required numerous medications," the affidavit reads. "Hager stated he could no longer afford the medications needed for Carolyn's care, thus decided to shoot her this morning."

"He talked about her medical condition, that she was in poor health," Sheriff's Chief Deputy Garry Wilson said Tuesday, according to Treasure Coast Newspapers. "She was always in a lot of pain."

I'm sure this 86 year old man who will probably be dead within a year was just a cold-hearted killer looking for an excuse to kill his wife.

 

[TheAristocrat]

Perhaps health care should be free ?

"Free"

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I don't even walk down the stairs in front of my wife.

 

"Hey honey, what are you cutting up in the kitchen? I'll be in the garage for the winter, thanks."

 

[cstu]

Brings up a larger point and something all married folks should think about...how much do you want the other person to do in order to save you? When it is time to pull the plug so you don't ruin everyone's life around you? Should you have plans in place decades before you will ever need them?

Got a couple of buddies who will help me named Smith & Wesson.

“No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 More than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always #####y. No Fun – for anybody. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax – This won’t hurt.”

 

[cstu]

Perhaps health care should be free ?

Now instead of paying for her meds the government is going to spend the money on a trial and jail.

What a country!

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Got a couple of buddies who will help me named Smith & Wesson.

OK so you would do the deed yourself? Meaning you get diagnosed terminal whatever and you can feel your body going, you decide to end it yourself? 

 

[cstu]

OK so you would do the deed yourself? Meaning you get diagnosed terminal whatever and you can feel your body going, you decide to end it yourself? 

Yes, I can't imagine just wasting away in pain while people wipe my ###.  Hope I have the guts to do it if it comes to that.

 

[NutterButter]

Now instead of paying for her meds the government is going to spend the money on a trial and jail.

What a country!

We just saved a bunch of money on her medicare bill.  We might still come out ahead.

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

Thanks Posty

 

[loser]

I believe in the power of old people love

Huey Lewis reunion?

 

[worrierking]

My 89-year old father is an absolute mess.  He needs to be in a nursing home but won't go.  I had to give him a shower the other day after a nurse told me he was filthy and needed one.  On the whole I would rather give my 20-pound cat Sumo a bath than my dad.  There are parts of his decrepit and shriveled anatomy that I have now seen and can't unsee.

I wish he would go peacefully in his sleep tonight. 

So, I am sympathetic to the old guy's story, but still have some questions.  The wife is surely on medicare at her age, and while it doesn't pay for everything, it pays for at least 2/3 of the costs of pretty much any care.  Also, there are kids mentioned, are they not in a position to help pay? If my Dad needed help with medication, my brother and I would certainly pay, no matter the cost. What about a church?  Dad's church would help out if he needed it. 

What about things like reverse mortgages, Medicaid (rules vary by state, but she may have qualified).  Heck, he could have sold his gun that he shot her with and probably kept her in meds for another month or two. 

It's possible the story is 100% true, but it wouldn't shock me at all if there was more to it.

 

[zoonation]

Crazy old guy murders wife.  Got it. 

 

[DallasDMac]

Yes, I can't imagine just wasting away in pain while people wipe my ###.  Hope I have the guts to do it if it comes to that.

You would likely void any life insurance you were carrying by doing that. Could seriously screw over the very family you hope to protect. It can be a catch 22 I have to imagine.

 

[NutterButter]

My 89-year old father is an absolute mess.  He needs to be in a nursing home but won't go.  I had to give him a shower the other day after a nurse told me he was filthy and needed one.  On the whole I would rather give my 20-pound cat Sumo a bath than my dad.  There are parts of his decrepit and shriveled anatomy that I have now seen and can't unsee.

Isn't that what the nurse is for?

 

[Ketamine Dreams]

Perhaps health care should be free ?

Or maybe euthanasia should be legal?

(I didn't read the article though).

 

[cstu]

You would likely void any life insurance you were carrying by doing that. Could seriously screw over the very family you hope to protect. It can be a catch 22 I have to imagine.

There is usually a two year 'contestable period' where the insurance company may not have to pay.  After that though they would have to pay (assuming the policy doesn't have a suicide exclusion clause).

 

[EYLive]

When it is time to pull the plug so you don't ruin everyone's life around you? Should you have plans in place decades before you will ever need them?

A comprehensive living trust allows you to declare your wishes for these situations.

 

[lod01]

Should have moved to Oregon first.

 

[Tom Skerritt]

I will be hoarding opiates well before the terminally ill stage specifically for ending my life. 

 

[cockroach]

I will be hoarding opiates well before the terminally ill stage specifically for ending my life. 

Helium FTW

 

[dickey moe]

"Free"

Health care isn't free.

There's a hefty ####in' fee.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I don't even walk down the stairs in front of my wife.

Good info here.

 

[Tom Skerritt]

Helium FTW

Riiight... I've seen that somewhere. Thanks for the reminder. :thumb up:

 

[James Daulton]

My 89-year old father is an absolute mess.  He needs to be in a nursing home but won't go.  I had to give him a shower the other day after a nurse told me he was filthy and needed one.  On the whole I would rather give my 20-pound cat Sumo a bath than my dad.  There are parts of his decrepit and shriveled anatomy that I have now seen and can't unsee.

I wish he would go peacefully in his sleep tonight. 

So, I am sympathetic to the old guy's story, but still have some questions.  The wife is surely on medicare at her age, and while it doesn't pay for everything, it pays for at least 2/3 of the costs of pretty much any care.  Also, there are kids mentioned, are they not in a position to help pay? If my Dad needed help with medication, my brother and I would certainly pay, no matter the cost. What about a church?  Dad's church would help out if he needed it. 

What about things like reverse mortgages, Medicaid (rules vary by state, but she may have qualified).  Heck, he could have sold his gun that he shot her with and probably kept her in meds for another month or two. 

It's possible the story is 100% true, but it wouldn't shock me at all if there was more to it.

Son of the year right here.  Lucky for him he never had to wash your ###...oh, wait...

 

[Hang 10]

Greatest generation my ###.

 

[Bull Dozier]

I think not being able to afford pain medication is the crux here, assuming that was the case.  I can't imagine watching my wife of that many years suffering in pain and not being able to do anything about it.  I'm guessing a 80+ year old man is a little too proud to ask his kids/family for help.  He's also probably not thinking as clearly, and fully as he should (calling the police notwithstanding).  Just a bad situation overall, and the system needs to show him more compassion than a typical arrest and trial.  JMHO.