TX - Mary Roberson, 83, shot to death by terminally ill husband, 25 April 2006

[Floh]

Sad. Thre were more details in his death notice as to the nature of the killing of his wife, such as the fact he used a "heirloom" pistol and that he waited to the last day he knew he could use his right hand to do it. However, when he turned the pistol on himself it jammed. It also explains that the couple's daughter has MS, which explains the father's unwillingness to leave the wife alone in a nursing home or in the care of their child. I can certainly understand his midset. My uncle, bless his heart, is beside himself, trying to deal with my aunt, who has a debilitating neurological disorder that combines elements of Lou Gehrings Disease with Alzheimers. She's in a nursing home but he's there almost 24/7 because he's the only one who can get her to eat. The staff at the nursing home are nice but the place is old and underfunded. The place smells of lotion and doo-doo. As my younger brother (who's 42) said last time we were there: "If I*ever* end up somewhere like this, in this kind of condition, for God's sake shoot me."

We're moving into an age where this is going to be happening more and more as the baby boomers move forward and there is a lot more keeping people 'alive' for longer -- but the cost can be dreadful.

and sad to hear of the strain on your uncle, BGG, and i'm sad to hear of the couple's daughter's health problems.

 

[Details]

There needs to be a better way people can control their end, and we need to keep our noses out of other people's choices about this - so many groups trying to place a million hurdles or just plain outlaw any form of euthanasia - but when it's needed, it's so badly needed, and people not in that situation just can't understand it fully.

 

[txsvicki]

My mother recently told me of this type thing happening probably 75 years ago with one of her relatives who was lingering and suffering from cancer. The husband was drunk and sitting with his pistol trying to get the courage to shoot his wife. He couldn't do it, and the family did not think highly of this at all. Of course, the husband was not that old or terminally ill himself but I imagine he was wanting to end the horrible suffering and pain. I have to wonder if this elderly woman had told her husband to end her life at some point. If not, I don't really agree with the decision. People who constantly care for others and who are ill themselves might not be thinking too clearly.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

The sad story continues:

The family of James Roberson said they may learn as early as today whether his admission that he killed his wife prevents him from being buried in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

The case received nationwide attention in April after Mr. Roberson, an 83-year-old World War II veteran with terminal cancer, fatally shot his wife, Mary, also 83, who had suffered two strokes.

He told authorities he feared she could not be properly cared for after his death. He tried to kill himself, but the gun didn't fire. He was charged with murder but was released from jail the next day after bail was set at $2,500.

Mr. Roberson died of cancer three weeks later. The Dallas County district attorney's office has said it considers the case closed.

Although the case was never taken to a grand jury, cemetery officials informed the family last week that someone involved in such a killing might be prevented by federal policy from being buried in the veterans cemetery. A conviction would not be necessary if the person died before the case went to court.

Sally Roberson, the couple's daughter, said a local Veterans Affairs lawyer had raised the issue and sent it to the Washington office for a decision.

"If there was a recommendation one way or the other, I wasn't aware of it," Ms. Roberson said. "I think they were just passing the buck."

The lawyer's office referred calls to the VA public affairs office. A VA spokesman did not return a call left on his voice mail.

Ms. Roberson said the family understood that exceptions to the policy had been made in the past and that she was optimistic the burial would continue as planned.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...metery_07met.ART.North.Edition1.18731bce.html