Found Deceased ME - Kristin Westra, 47, North Yarmouth, 30 Sept 2018

[Tuliptiptoe]

What you wrote makes perfect sense to me.
Like you said, "So sad for everyone involved."
Especially for those who struggle with thoughts of what they could have done differently to prevent the tragedy.

BBM

Yes, I haven't been able to stop thinking that if this case is a suicide KW's husband is going to have an incredibly difficult time with the 3 AM wake up, wishing he'd followed her, etc.

Moo

 

[SoBu]

Like several have said, it’s difficult to put ourselves in the mind of a person who commits suicide (if that’s what this was) and I also have the question about why a thoughtful, organized person like Kristin was (by all accounts) would potentially put her family through all those days of uncertainty and agony. She probably didn’t want her family to find her, and maybe thought she would be found much more quickly? Maybe she didn’t leave a suicide note with her intentions out of fear her husband would wake up and interrupt her plans?

Sadly I just wish she would have seen through to the opportunity to try meds and therapy to deal with her issues. There is so much that could have helped her.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

I don't understand the point of this being publicized. Her husband's FB page proves the body found is her.

Gosh, as someone wrote the other day, this makes me wonder about the condition of the body. There are wild animals who could easily destroy a body in a night beyond recognition, which may be why they didn't readily identify the body, but that also makes me wonder about bears. What if she just stepped out of the house to sit outside for a few minutes, and a bear attacked her and dragged her away? I suppose people would have heard screaming, though, had she been able to. Bear/human attacks here in New England are relatively rare, though.

 

[annemc2]

BBM

Yes, I haven't been able to stop thinking that if this case is a suicide KW's husband is going to have an incredibly difficult time with the 3 AM wake up, wishing he'd followed her, etc.

Moo

In a similar vein, my heart is breaking for the mental health clinician and friend of Kristin's husband who evaluated her the day before she went missing. I used to work as a psych NP and this was always my greatest fear. They say that oncologists' patients are more likely to die of cancer and psychiatrists' patients are more likely to die of suicide. It's a comforting analogy for clinicians but ultimately doesn't make it any easier.

Even if it turns out to be an accidental death, Kristin's judgement was likely greatly impaired by mental health issues. The ripples in the aftermath of her demise will be devastating for those who knew her. Sending light and hope to the many people that she touched during her life.

 

[Alethea]

Gosh, as someone wrote the other day, this makes me wonder about the condition of the body. There are wild animals who could easily destroy a body in a night beyond recognition, which may be why they didn't readily identify the body, but that also makes me wonder about bears. What if she just stepped out of the house to sit outside for a few minutes, and a bear attacked her and dragged her away? I suppose people would have heard screaming, though, had she been able to. Bear/human attacks here in New England are relatively rare, though.

I don't think that's likely, black bears rarely attack. They are scared of people. We have bears in our yard multiple times a year and as soon as you come outside they run away. There were multiple houses on the street so I don't think the mile walk would compare to say hiking in a very remote part of the White Mountains and you come across a mama bear with her cubs. That's the only time I've heard of a bear attacking a person up here.

 

[Tuliptiptoe]

I don't think that's likely, black bears rarely attack. They are scared of people. We have bears in our yard multiple times a year and as soon as you come outside they run away. There were multiple houses on the street so I don't think the mile walk would compare to say hiking in a very remote part of the White Mountains and you come across a mama bear with her cubs. That's the only time I've heard of a bear attacking a person up here.

I'd be evidence of that as well, drag mark's, etc.

Moo

 

[drama_farmer]

IMO
If there's anything "positive" to be gleaned from this outcome, maybe it will assist Search & Rescue professionals to refine/enhance their techniques. Successful SaR missions are what everyone pays attention to (and prays for), but I believe there's much to be gained by reviewing the tactics used in every large-scale rescue. If it turns out to be a death by self-harm, I guess the same could be said for analyzing the statements of significant others. JMO

 

[jpo74]

When we moved from GA to N.C., Ga adopted Fall Break and we didn’t get to have it in N.C., we now are in KY and have a full week in October, and get our *advertiser censored* kicked by snow days Bc so many of our school buses run on rural routes lol. We stayed home this year, but lots go to the panhandle

usually kids stay home on the snow days but every once in awhile we have to use one when we hae sleet or icey roads. here in texas people arent used to driving in winter conditions

 

[Alethea]

usually kids stay home on the snow days but every once in awhile we have to use one when we hae sleet or icey roads. here in texas people arent used to driving in winter conditions

OT but I always thought it was weird that southern schools closed for flurries until I realized many towns just do not have salt or sanding trucks since it freezes so infrequently. Up here every time it snows the salt and sanding trucks are out every few hours.

 

[ElementalLaura]

If it was self-harm (which I suspect it is), she may have tried to conceal her location. It's hard to find bodies in outdoors locations when they are hidden.

She literally fled half-clothed during a dark and stormy night to try to outrun her demons. They found her.

I believe in her desperation, she thought this would be best for everyone. She could just ... disappear ... and everyone could go on with their lives.

 

[2manyhorses]

I have been following quietly from the start. Lived in the area for a while. Native of New England. Here is my dilemma.
The husband is the source for any mental health issues she allegedly had lately. The best friend was surprised. In my experience the girlfriend would know more about Kristin's state of mind than the husband. Next, if this friend of the family in law NP saw Kristin professionally and gave medical advice it was totally unprofessional. However we only got this information from the husband. I don't see where it has been confirmed. Perhaps I missed it.
Could it be suicide? Anything possible, but let me ask you this. If the husband had not mentioned the NP or the anxiousness or the trouble sleeping and on and on and we were going by the information supplied by the best friend and colleagues, would anyone be thinking it was a suicide? I won't use suicide as the go to guess for COD until I get information from the police that corroborates the husband's information. Sorry. Not acusing anyone of anything. Just refusing to take anything at face value when all information comes from one person. JMO

 

[MsFacetious]

This case has shades of Leanne Bearden, sadly. People were ready to convict her poor husband. Theories were all over the place and I believe she had even scheduled a job interview just before her "disappearance". Sadly, she had taken her own life and was, after much searching, was found hanging from a tree on a neighbor's property that had already been searched.

I hope she is found safe for the sake of all who love and care for her.

Yes. While we often see guilty husbands on here... this one never did seem to me to be one of them.

I think a reporter accidentally left his mic on during one of the live feeds. During that feed, someone said that a body had been found and it was found by a family member. That live feed has since been removed.

I hope it was not found by a family member. That is an image that the person will never forget. It will be seared into their memory forever and nobody should remember a loved one that way. My Aunt just found her only son's body last week. She will never be the same.

I hate the idea of kids finding the body as well of course. I don't think Kristin would have wanted either scenario to happen if it had been up to her.

fall break like spring break? down here where i am at in texas, we dont have fall break we have spring break in march we have a 2 week christmas break maybe thats why, dont know. we also have, in case we need it, cold weather days

In some areas they've made a teacher appreciation holiday in October which falls during the deer hunt. So many kids were absent during that time frame anyway, they just made it a holiday. Not sure if that's the case in Maine though.

BBM

Suicidal ideation happens with some people on antidepressants, certainly not all as you allege. I've successfully been on them for years, and I know many, many others who have been as well. Your generalization is not accurate.

There is a reason why you don't see an improvement in symptoms for a few weeks as well. Yes, some people react badly to them. However, nobody is going to commit suicide after one dose. That's just not how it works.

I don't understand the point of this being publicized. Her husband's FB page proves the body found is her.

Me neither, it seems like the media should have left it alone knowing they are in denial.

Holidays are a huge trigger for me. My first husband got sick on Christmas morning and passed away 3 days later. How do you avoid that? It's all around you and unavoidable. I have learned to cope. It's still there though.

My Aunt lost her son around Christmas to cancer and my best friend had her stillborn daughter 4 days before Christmas. It's awful to have something that tragic connected to the holidays.

 

[Steelslady]

IMO
If there's anything "positive" to be gleaned from this outcome, maybe it will assist Search & Rescue professionals to refine/enhance their techniques. Successful SaR missions are what everyone pays attention to (and prays for), but I believe there's much to be gained by reviewing the tactics used in every large-scale rescue. If it turns out to be a death by self-harm, I guess the same could be said for analyzing the statements of significant others. JMO

The thing is, do we even know that SAR was in the wrong here?

We don't know as of this moment, that it is Kristin because LE has not confirmed this yet. This body that the children found, we don't know how long it was there and what condition the body is in. Now, I am not saying that someone placed that body there after the search, but, it wouldn't be the first time that a victim was either missed by searchers and dogs, or the body was moved to that location after the area was searched.

 

[bears10]

I have been following quietly from the start. Lived in the area for a while. Native of New England. Here is my dilemma.
The husband is the source for any mental health issues she allegedly had lately. The best friend was surprised. In my experience the girlfriend would know more about Kristin's state of mind than the husband. Next, if this friend of the family in law NP saw Kristin professionally and gave medical advice it was totally unprofessional. However we only got this information from the husband. I don't see where it has been confirmed. Perhaps I missed it.
Could it be suicide? Anything possible, but let me ask you this. If the husband had not mentioned the NP or the anxiousness or the trouble sleeping and on and on and we were going by the information supplied by the best friend and colleagues, would anyone be thinking it was a suicide? I won't use suicide as the go to guess for COD until I get information from the police that corroborates the husband's information. Sorry. Not acusing anyone of anything. Just refusing to take anything at face value when all information comes from one person. JMO

I guess everyone’s different. My husband would know much more about my mental state than my best friend. I live with my husband day in and day out, it’s a lot harder to hide my emotions from him as opposed to my friends or even coworkers who I’m with 40 hours a week. BThat’s JME though.

 

[Wish I Knew]

The thing is, do we even know that SAR was in the wrong here?

We don't know as of this moment, that it is Kristin because LE has not confirmed this yet. This body that the children found, we don't know how long it was there and what condition the body is in. Now, I am not saying that someone placed that body there after the search, but, it wouldn't be the first time that a victim was either missed by searchers and dogs, or the body was moved to that location after the area was searched.

We don't know, but....her husband does.

I believe him.

 

[Deleted member 278]

We don't know, but....her husband does.

I believe him.

Me too.

 

[MsFacetious]

Me too.

Me three.

 

[Mercedes]

Holidays are a huge trigger for me. My first husband got sick on Christmas morning and passed away 3 days later. How do you avoid that? It's all around you and unavoidable. I have learned to cope. It's still there though.

IMO, you never get over it. Over the years I learned to give him one day over the holiday rather than giving him every day of the holiday. Many years later, surprisingly, one year I forgot to give him a day. I never forget December 28. You are right, somehow, you learn to cope, but it never goes away.

 

[legalmomma]

I'm in your camp

I have been following quietly from the start. Lived in the area for a while. Native of New England. Here is my dilemma.
The husband is the source for any mental health issues she allegedly had lately. The best friend was surprised. In my experience the girlfriend would know more about Kristin's state of mind than the husband. Next, if this friend of the family in law NP saw Kristin professionally and gave medical advice it was totally unprofessional. However we only got this information from the husband. I don't see where it has been confirmed. Perhaps I missed it.
Could it be suicide? Anything possible, but let me ask you this. If the husband had not mentioned the NP or the anxiousness or the trouble sleeping and on and on and we were going by the information supplied by the best friend and colleagues, would anyone be thinking it was a suicide? I won't use suicide as the go to guess for COD until I get information from the police that corroborates the husband's information. Sorry. Not acusing anyone of anything. Just refusing to take anything at face value when all information comes from one person. JMO

 

[Mauig’ma]

I'm in your camp

I have been following quietly from the start. Lived in the area for a while. Native of New England. Here is my dilemma.
The husband is the source for any mental health issues she allegedly had lately. The best friend was surprised. In my experience the girlfriend would know more about Kristin's state of mind than the husband. Next, if this friend of the family in law NP saw Kristin professionally and gave medical advice it was totally unprofessional. However we only got this information from the husband. I don't see where it has been confirmed. Perhaps I missed it.
Could it be suicide? Anything possible, but let me ask you this. If the husband had not mentioned the NP or the anxiousness or the trouble sleeping and on and on and we were going by the information supplied by the best friend and colleagues, would anyone be thinking it was a suicide? I won't use suicide as the go to guess for COD until I get information from the police that corroborates the husband's information. Sorry. Not acusing anyone of anything. Just refusing to take anything at face value when all information comes from one person. JMO

I back you 100% on this! Until we know for sure it’s rude to speculate.