Found Alive TX - Christine Woo (fnd dec'd), 39, & 3 kids, Frisco, 28 March 2016

[jjenny]

I don't think oldest unbuckled anything. If she could unbuckle, why didn't she get out of the car? Children don't like to sit still, and these children were sitting in their own waste. So if she was capable of unbuckling and moving, why hadn't she done so for herself? I presume this mother had the baby in her lap when she took the pills.

 

[December]

I don't think oldest unbuckled anything. If she could unbuckle, why didn't she get out of the car? Children don't like to sit still, and these children were sitting in their own waste. So if she was capable of unbuckling and moving, why hadn't she done so for herself? I presume this mother had the baby in her lap when she took the pills.

Yeah, that's kind of what I think as well. They were well and truly stuck in that car.

 

[jjenny]

Here is what reported by "People."
"Before she killed herself, the mother of three was caught on camera at a local Walgreens buying a bottle of sleeping pills. Police say the bottle of sleeping pills was empty when Woo was discovered."
http://www.people.com/article/christine-woo-overdose-suicide-police-report

 

[Curious Me]

This sad news hits on the same day as another suicide was publically announced for us Websleuthers and my heart just aches so much. The other thread in case you were not following it I am referencing is Nicole Mittendorf, the firefighter out of Virginia. Rest in peace to both of these beautiful ladies. I am very sorry life failed you, our systems failed you, and no one was able to rescue you to safety. Both of these young ladies were very strong, caretakers, and both seemed to have a great life going for them. Both of them and their suicide shocked the community. As a prior student peer counselor in high school, we were taught those who are most likely to do something of this nature are those who will not tell anyone and will go off in hiding. Those whom speak it or threaten it are less likely to pull it off. Also, it is a very common knowledge those who appear the strongest are often the weakest on the inside and more apt to crumble and fall. What can we learn moving forward? What can us sleuthers do to help shout out the true need for more mental awareness? We have got to do something.

I totally disagree with that old theory. Please know I'm not knocking what you said, but the only reason I'm posting this is to urge people to pay attention. It would depend on the person, all types of people commit suicide, but I think if someone mentions feeling suicidal then it should be taken seriously. Just because someone vocalizes it doesn't mean it's less likely to happen.

A vocal person expressing it means they're afraid of their own thoughts and it's there in the back of their minds. If they actually say something about it, then that is certainly a cry for help. The signs of suicide are often subtle, but sometimes they're somewhat obvious, and other people don't know what to do to help. Sometimes it requires others to look beneath the surface. Mental awareness is paying attention when someone says they're stressed, overwhelmed, bullied, in pain, can't take it anymore, or mention they think of suicide.

I bet there were signs that Christine was at a breaking point. Who knows if it would have come to this if someone in her life had noticed and made efforts to help. There'll be people now that feel somewhat guilty that they didn't see it building or didn't do something to lighten her load even if it was to have a deeper conversation with her. Sad beyond sad for the children. It's shocking how desperate she must have felt to go about it with her children in that car.

raying:

 

[jjenny]

Some people who knew her did notice she seemed overwhelmed and depressed. Although the husband didn't seem to admit to that in his interviews with the press.
But I don't know if he really didn't notice anything or just didn't want to admit it to the press.

 

[Cricket99]

Just getting here and seeing this. It's so terribly sad, those poor babies. From the beginning I had a fear this was the case. I am beyond glad she didn't attempt to take the kids with her. I think the oldest unbuckled the baby and helped the baby to get with mom to try and soothe the baby during that time. I don't think mom was holding the baby when she died.

I also don't think it would ever be ruled a suicide unless there was sufficient evidence of it being so.

I just keep thinking how selfish this is, then I remember the pain and suffering one goes through to even get to that point. There is not a time that suicide is the answer.

I agree, however, I think this was a rotten thing to expose her children to. How could she do that?

 

[tiffay01]

I agree, however, I think this was a rotten thing to expose her children to. How could she do that?

Sorry, I may not have completed my thought [emoji15] I agree with you 100%. What she did to her children there is no excuse or understanding for. I was trying to say, I can't imagine in ones mind what kind of mental anguish and pain it takes (kids aside for just a moment) to decide this is it, I am leaving this world I am ending my life. Now with her adding in the aspect that she had so much mental anguish she made an even more unconscionable and pathetic choice (MOO) to take her own life with her children in her car! Seriously she is leaving them with her husband to raise for the rest of their lives anyway, so why not do this at home? Why not put the kids in a bedroom close the door, put the baby in the crib (where it would be hard for the oldest to get the baby out) the dad would be home that night. The kids wouldn't have sat there with their mom who was dead for days.

So all of that to say...(sorry) that I do agree with you 100%!! This is never the way to handle it, I just can't (as a sane and level and clear headed person) rationalize what one goes through to commit suicide.

 

[jjenny]

That's what I can't figure out-was she expecting them to survive or not? Police said she didn't do anything to deliberately hurt the children. I presume that means she didn't give them any pills. But yet they were in the car and weren't able to get out. If not found in time, clearly they would have died. So did she think somebody was going to find them or did she think they were going to die in that car?
Three to four days is how much someone can typically go without water. These children were described as dehydrated when found, and they were found 3 days after she went missing. So they didn't have a lot of time left.

"However, one week is a generous estimate. Three to four days would be more typical."
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-days-can-you-survive-without-water-2014-5

 

[tiffay01]

I personally feel like there is a huge part of the puzzle missing. MOO no reason to suspect anyone obviously, I just want to say I hope and pray they have scoured any and ALL security footage. That would show any and all comings and goings to that car during this time. Not placing blame or pointing fingers at anyone at all. I just feel like something is off.

 

[grillzgirl]

Perhaps she felt that by being in a public parking lot someone would see the children? Was it ever determined if the window shade was place there by the mother or if the police placed it there to shield the investigation?

 

[jjenny]

Perhaps she felt that by being in a public parking lot someone would see the children? Was it ever determined if the window shade was place there by the mother or if the police placed it there to shield the investigation?

I don't think police would have placed shades inside the car.

 

[tiffay01]

I don't think police would have placed shades inside the car.

They did here locally when a lady shot herself, she was in the front seat and to keep media from zooming in to try and see her they placed shades she had in the car. Not saying it's what happened here, but maybe they did. I can also see where mom might have put it up to keep the sun and eyes out until the deed was done.

I just keep thinking she could have so easily put those kids in a bedroom. Kept them from being able to leave the room by locking them in :horrible thought: this way they wouldn't have sat in the car for days. Ugh I don't know this case and cases similar drive me crazy. I so desperately want to understand and I simply can't!!

 

[Inthedetails]

That's what I can't figure out-was she expecting them to survive or not? Police said she didn't do anything to deliberately hurt the children. I presume that means she didn't give them any pills. But yet they were in the car and weren't able to get out. If not found in time, clearly they would have died. So did she think somebody was going to find them or did she think they were going to die in that car?
Three to four days is how much someone can typically go without water. These children were described as dehydrated when found, and they were found 3 days after she went missing. So they didn't have a lot of time left.

"However, one week is a generous estimate. Three to four days would be more typical."
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-days-can-you-survive-without-water-2014-5

I think she assumed the children would succumb to hot-car death. Of course, I don't know that. Whatever she thought, her mind was muddled and pained, and she was not thinking clearly.

 

[Tssiemer]

Suicide is seen as selfish. Maybe she wanted her kids with her til the end.


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[EdinburghLass]

I went back to when the below article came out, but can't see it discussed here. Is there any confirmation that she actually did drive around for days or is it just sensationalist reporting?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...live-committed-suicide-autopsy-concludes.html

'Overwhelmed' mom spent THREE DAYS driving around with her children before committing suicide in a Target parking lot leaving them unharmed

 

[jjenny]

I went back to when the below article came out, but can't see it discussed here. Is there any confirmation that she actually did drive around for days or is it just sensationalist reporting?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...live-committed-suicide-autopsy-concludes.html

'Overwhelmed' mom spent THREE DAYS driving around with her children before committing suicide in a Target parking lot leaving them unharmed

Daily Mail is a tabloid (not known for its accuracy). Nobody else reported anything of the sort. Per the autopsy body was decomposing in the car. Children were dehydrated and sitting in their own waste. I think it's pretty clear she didn't drive around for 3 days.

"The autopsy stated Woo’s body was decomposing in the car."

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/...ound-alive-killed-herself-officials-say.html/

 

[jjenny]

New information on what was the overdose.

"I am of the opinion that Christine Woo, a 39-year-old female, died as a result of diphenydramine toxicity," William B. Rohr, medical examiner, wrote in the autopsy report. "Law enforcement investigation and autopsy with toxicology results indicate that her excess self-ingestion of this drug was a deliberate act intended to end her life."

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Fr...mine-Overdose-Collin-County-ME-377178991.html

 

[jjenny]

"Diphenhydramine often is used recreationally1 and as a method of suicide.2 In intentional overdoses, patients report visual and auditory hallucinations as well as delirium. The anticholinergic potential of diphenhydramine is very large. Common anticholinergic adverse drug reactions include mydriasis, confusion, tachycardia, and urinary retention."
http://www.pharmacypracticenews.com...amine-Overdose-in-a-Male-Adult/27462/ses=ogst

 

[mpnola]

Diphenhydramine is Benadryl...... I'm so sad for her children. HOOOOORRIBLE!

 

[MzOpinion8d]

Diphenhydramine is Benadryl...... I'm so sad for her children. HOOOOORRIBLE!

I posted a week or so ago that Benadryl would have been out of the children's systems by the time they were found. So they're able to say she didn't appear to be trying to harm them but I don't think they can be 100% sure of that. I still think she gave them what she thought would be a lethal dose but it wasn't enough to kill them. I think they slept for a long time which is partly why they survived. That's why I think the baby was still in her lap. She slept a long time and then by the time she woke up she was too dehydrated and weak to move.