Suicide by Murder ??

74-911 · 02-12-2017, 04:09 AM

In late January a 37 YO 12 year veteran of the Houston FD was eastbound on IH10 just west of Houston when his car veered across the median and into incoming traffic and hit a on-coming car head on (police said car doing 80 MPH when it hit the other car). The fireman killed instantly as well as the 61 YO lady driving the other car and the 31 YO daughter of the lady seriously injured (they were returning home from M.D. Anderson where the daughter was receiving treatment for cancer). The fireman left a wife and 2 kids. The accident presumed to be tire or mechanical failure. A terrible accident it seemed.

Until earlier this week the cause of death of the fireman was ruled suicide. As far as I know they haven't released why they changed it to suicide but must assume they had strong evidence of such.

Firemen apparently have a fairly high rate of suicide but why take innocent victims with you ?? If you are going to use a car, there are plenty of bridge abutments, overpass support columns, etc. you can use. Just makes no sense at all...

M.D. Holloway · 02-12-2017, 04:38 AM

Because those that commit suicide are very selfish...albeit in pain. They do not consider their actions other then to end their pain and hopefully make others around them affected in some way - I guess it plays into a need to feel like they matter but can't prove it while being alive.

masraum · 02-12-2017, 05:44 AM

Wow, that's a horrible way to go and to decide to do it. As stated, you're going to be taking someone else and potentially causing a huge loss for many others. Also, seems like there's too much chance for it to not turn out right and you to end up a veggie or killing others but not dying yourself. I would have thought a large stationary object would be much better, but then I think most of the things like over pass supports, etc have safety precautions in place.

As Mike said, folks that commit suicide aren't thinking rationally.

HardDrive · 02-12-2017, 06:25 AM

I want to go out like my grandfather did, in his sleep. Not like his passengers, screaming in terror.

fastfredracing · 02-12-2017, 06:42 AM

This is a little bit off topic . I hope it is o.k to share here.
One of my good friends from my youth, shot himself in the head . His seven year old son found him. He did it right in his own basement .
I just did some work for the boy recently, and he is a mess. Probably never going to be right again. This was 10 years ago.
I will never forgive Jim for what he did, and although I loved the guy , I will always remember him as a coward, that could not man up to his own mistakes.

SCadaddle · 02-12-2017, 07:04 AM

I once dated a woman whose 2nd husband shot himself in the head, not once, not twice but three times shortly after being accused of molesting her 11 year old daughter from her first marriage to the Fire Chief. Our relationship didn't last long after hearing her tell that story.

aap1966 · aap1966's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 74-911

............. Just makes no sense at all...

Suicide, and how it is done, is not always rational.

ossiblue · 02-12-2017, 07:17 AM

Out here, we recently had a similar suicide by a fireman. He jumped off an overpass onto the I-5 freeway, timing his jump to land in front of a big rig. He was in his 40's with a wife and young child. My thoughts were with the poor truck driver as well as the surviving spouse and child.

KNS · 02-12-2017, 07:21 AM

Don't understand taking others with you.

I've also heard that it is not uncommon among firefighters, There have been a few Phoenix firefighters go that way in recent years.

glewis80SC · glewis80SC's Garage

Sad news sorry for all those effected...yes unfortunately there has been a rise in suicides within the fire service my dept has had about a half dozen in the past two years.

Crowbob · 02-12-2017, 07:46 AM

A half-century or so at aged 10 a female friend heard a loud bang from the bathroom. She pushed open the door enough to squeeze her head thru. She wishes to this day that she hadn't.

Her father.

At about age 13 that same girl woke up in the hospital with a faint recollection of cartwheeling in the air over the ditch down the road from her house. She'd been hit by a car. Lots of fractures.

Between high school and college this same lady decides to make a go of moving by herself to downtown Louisville, KY where she lands a job selling high-end home audio equipment. One night sleeping in her tiny apartment she is awakened by a man with a knife to her throat...

The surgery for colon cancer went OK and she did well post op. at least for a few days. Something went haywire and she went into hypovolumic shock. Too weak to stand we got her back into the hospital. I watched her cry as they poked her and stuck her with needles being too dehydrated to find a vein. Then the chemo started.

One hip replacement, one MRSA episode, pending hip #2 and a knee replacement and this fine lady serves me dinner most nights.

I think she's my Valentine.

speeder · 02-12-2017, 07:48 AM

There are so many easy ways to get rid of yourself w/o harming others. This just makes zero sense, other than as a terrorist act. Why isn't it being described as one?

What is the difference between this and a suicide bomber, other than (possible) lack of religious ideology? The result is exactly the same, i.e. random innocents killed intentionally and perp loses his life in the commission of the act. The bad guy's former profession isn't even relevant. Who gives a schit about him.

Too bad they published his name when they thought it was an accident.

HardDrive · 02-12-2017, 07:48 AM

Why firemen? Cops, EMTs, emergency room docs....there are lots of high stress, high drama jobs. Is there something unique about their job?

HardDrive · 02-12-2017, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowbob

A half-century or so at aged 10 a female friend heard a loud bang from the bathroom. She pushed open the door enough to squeeze her head thru. She wishes to this day that she hadn't.

Her father.

At about age 13 that same girl woke up in the hospital with a faint recollection of cartwheeling in the air over the ditch down the road from her house. She'd been hit by a car. Lots of fractures.

Between high school and college this same lady decides to make a go of moving by herself to downtown Louisville, KY where she lands a job selling high-end home audio equipment. One night sleeping in her tiny apartment she is awakened by a man with a knife to her throat...

The surgery for colon cancer went OK and she did well post op. at least for a few days. Something went haywire and she went into hypovolumic shock. Too weak to stand we got her back into the hospital. I watched her cry as they poked her and stuck her with needles being too dehydrated to find a vein. Then the chemo started.

One hip replacement, one MRSA episode, pending hip #2 and a knee replacement and this fine lady serves me dinner most nights.

I think she's my Valentine.

She's a tough one. Grit.

speeder · 02-12-2017, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowbob

A half-century or so at aged 10 a female friend heard a loud bang from the bathroom. She pushed open the door enough to squeeze her head thru. She wishes to this day that she hadn't.

Her father.

At about age 13 that same girl woke up in the hospital with a faint recollection of cartwheeling in the air over the ditch down the road from her house. She'd been hit by a car. Lots of fractures.

Between high school and college this same lady decides to make a go of moving by herself to downtown Louisville, KY where she lands a job selling high-end home audio equipment. One night sleeping in her tiny apartment she is awakened by a man with a knife to her throat...

The surgery for colon cancer went OK and she did well post op. at least for a few days. Something went haywire and she went into hypovolumic shock. Too weak to stand we got her back into the hospital. I watched her cry as they poked her and stuck her with needles being too dehydrated to find a vein. Then the chemo started.

One hip replacement, one MRSA episode, pending hip #2 and a knee replacement and this fine lady serves me dinner most nights.

I think she's my Valentine.

I'm sorry to hear about all this misfortune, she's definitely a survivor.

Is the relevance to this thread that she didn't kill herself?

Crowbob · 02-12-2017, 07:58 AM

I think many perps of murder-suicide are so bent on punishing themselves that they take somebody else out to prove to the world just how worthless and evil they think they are.

Simple suicide, though selfish and cruel, is motivated by something else entirely. I do beleive the actual suicide rate is significantly under-reported.

Crowbob · 02-12-2017, 08:05 AM

Yes, speeder. Somehow I think so.

motion · 02-12-2017, 08:11 AM

I HATE reading murder suicide stories where an unemployed, broke man at the end of his rope will kill his wife, kids and pets before taking himself out. Just so disgusting.

LakeCleElum · 02-12-2017, 08:19 AM

I know a lot of firefighters that died early from cancer. Due to exposure toxic fumes before the current equipment was standard. Maybe he had recently received bad news from his doc? Regardless, don't take innocent people with you.

David · David's Garage

All sad stories about a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I think it's fair to say my father killed himself but by a less gruesome method of booze, pharmaceuticals, and cigarettes at 43yo. My mom has her own demons. Knowing all this helps me understand that my demons aren't really me and will go away soon enough.

Crowbob, give that wonderful woman a hug from all us Pelicans!