Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Man who killed grandson, self suffered from depression
The Seattle Times ^ | August 6, 2004 | Christopher Schwarzen and Jennifer Sullivan

Posted on 08/06/2004 8:15:30 PM PDT by ValerieUSA

MONROE — A man who last night shot and killed his 5-year-old grandson before turning the gun on himself suffered from depression and previously alluded to hurting himself, Monroe Police Chief Tim Quenzer said. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Roy Bryan Hetherwick, 58, and the boy as Roy Brennan Hetherwick, 5.

According to Hetherwick's wife, Quenzer said, Hetherwick took medication for depression but had never talked of injuring the child. In a release issued this afternoon, Monroe police said officers responded to the house on July 2, when they found Hetherwick "despondent and feeling suicidal." He was taken voluntarily to Valley General Hospital for a mental-health evaluation.

At about 6:35 p.m. last night, Hetherwick pulled into the Monroe Police Department parking lot, got out of the car, yelled something inaudible and began firing. Both he and the boy died after being shot in the head, according to police. A police support-staff member saw the shooting, Quenzer said.

Hetherwick left a note on the windshield that said he didn't believe he could take care of the child anymore and didn't think any other family member could either, Quenzer said. Hetherwick and his wife live in unincorporated Snohomish County near Monroe and were in the process of adopting the boy. The woman said the child's parents are separated and live somewhere in Texas, but she didn't have their addresses, Quenzer said.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Texas; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: depression; medication; mental; murder; patient; police; suicide
Perhaps he was misdiagnosed. Maybe he wasn't suffering from depression after all, but a more serious psychosis. If a menatl patient is to be released back into a home where he or she has primary care of a small child, the doctors had better be damn well sure they've been thorough in determining his sanity and fitness first.
1 posted on 08/06/2004 8:15:32 PM PDT by ValerieUSA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ValerieUSA

Why? He came to the police station to commit the shooting so they would be there to, among other things, pick his firearm after the fact. This demonstrates that he had some idea of civic responsibility, and how would this aspect mesh with "serious psychosis"? Messed up he was, true, but more than that?


2 posted on 08/06/2004 8:39:38 PM PDT by GSlob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GSlob

Oh, so you say "maessed up" and the docs said "depressed."
I say something else was going on.

I have had full repsonsibility of raising 4 sons after my husband died. We've had serious financial difficulties and numerous other problems in these last 7 years, and I'm sure if I could afford a doctor's visit today, I would walk away with an anti-depression prescription. Never have my children ever been in danger of being murdered by their mother.


3 posted on 08/06/2004 9:01:32 PM PDT by ValerieUSA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ValerieUSA

If you're determined to commit a murder/suicide, please remember, the suicide comes first.


4 posted on 08/06/2004 9:05:21 PM PDT by Texican72
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Texican72

"If you're determined to commit a murder/suicide, please remember, the suicide comes first."

Once there was a memo about workplace shootings along the lines:
"it has come to the management's attention that some employees commit workplace shootings and then commit suicide. However, in some cases they either carelessly run out of ammunition before attempting a suicide or fail to commit suicide altogether through base cowardice. Therefore starting immediately the concerned employees are to start with committing suicide first. Violators of this policy will be subject to summary termination."


5 posted on 08/06/2004 9:17:58 PM PDT by GSlob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson