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Man kills wife, himself at Atlanta hospital
Husband shoots woman in her intensive care unit room

Updated: 9:34 a.m. ET Aug. 15, 2005
ATLANTA - A man fatally shot his wife in her intensive care hospital room and then killed himself Monday morning, authorities said.

The shooting took place around 6:15 a.m. at St. Joseph's Hospital, said Victor Azar, operations manager for Fulton County Emergency Services. The shootings were confined to one room and no other injuries were reported, police said.

The woman, who had suffered from a heart-related illness, was believed to be in her 70s, said Cpl. Gary Syblis, a spokesman for the Fulton County Police Department. Syblis did not say what sort of treatment the woman had undergone, but said the shooting happened in the intensive care unit and that the woman's recovery from her illness was not going well.

He declined to release the victims' names or provide any information about the shooter. He also declined to say how the man got a gun into his wife's hospital room.

that's kinda sweet in a twisted way

ParrotheadGator wrote:that's kinda sweet in a twisted way

Would you do that for your wife?

MargaritaRio wrote:

ParrotheadGator wrote:that's kinda sweet in a twisted way

Would you do that for your wife?

at this point, I'm ready to do it whether she wants it or not

actually this is not that rare of a thing. I like to think of it as an ultimate act of love.

I remember the depression my grandfather went thru when my grandmother passed - he followed her 3 months later. I always said he died of a broken heart.

Its just modern Romeo and Juliet. I am sure there is more to the severity of "her" illness that we know.... and he knew he couldnt live with out her. It is very sweet!

ph4ever wrote:actually this is not that rare of a thing. I like to think of it as an ultimate act of love.

I remember the depression my grandfather went thru when my grandmother passed - he followed her 3 months later. I always said he died of a broken heart.

It's really sad when they don't go close together. My grandparents were married for 65 years. Grandma Josephine died when I was pregnant with Victoria (Josephine is her middle name), so a little over 8 years ago. Grandpa is still alive but has been so depressed. She always took care of him his whole life. The last time I saw him was 2 years ago and he still had Victoria's birth announcement on his refrigerator. Of all his 16 children, 50 grandchildren, 18 great-grand children, and 1 great-great grand child--I'm the only one who has named a child after him or her.

I would hate to lose him because he is still very lucid and can tell stories that go way back to his teenage years, but it's so sad to see him without his only love.

Oh yeah, forgot to add. He'll be 92 this year!!

ph4ever wrote:actually this is not that rare of a thing. I like to think of it as an ultimate act of love.

I remember the depression my grandfather went thru when my grandmother passed - he followed her 3 months later. I always said he died of a broken heart.

I always figure that the first 3 months are the hardest, especially if they have been married for forever. If you can get the surviving spouse interested and past the first 6 months, you can probably bet on them making it to the anniversary of the passing. If you can get them past the anniversary, they will probably be ok.

RinglingRingling wrote:

ph4ever wrote:actually this is not that rare of a thing. I like to think of it as an ultimate act of love.

I remember the depression my grandfather went thru when my grandmother passed - he followed her 3 months later. I always said he died of a broken heart.

I always figure that the first 3 months are the hardest, especially if they have been married for forever. If you can get the surviving spouse interested and past the first 6 months, you can probably bet on them making it to the anniversary of the passing. If you can get them past the anniversary, they will probably be ok.

My parents were married 42 years when my mother died. That was 16 years ago and my father's still going strong (except he's convinced he doesn't have a hearing problem, everyone who talks to him mumbles), he'll be 81 in November.

LIPH wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

ph4ever wrote:actually this is not that rare of a thing. I like to think of it as an ultimate act of love.

I remember the depression my grandfather went thru when my grandmother passed - he followed her 3 months later. I always said he died of a broken heart.

I always figure that the first 3 months are the hardest, especially if they have been married for forever. If you can get the surviving spouse interested and past the first 6 months, you can probably bet on them making it to the anniversary of the passing. If you can get them past the anniversary, they will probably be ok.

My parents were married 42 years when my mother died. That was 16 years ago and my father's still going strong (except he's convinced he doesn't have a hearing problem, everyone who talks to him mumbles), he'll be 81 in November.

Does he look like Ben Stein as well?

No, I'm the stud muffin in the family.

We're so lucky to have you Larry!

LIPH wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

ph4ever wrote:actually this is not that rare of a thing. I like to think of it as an ultimate act of love.

I remember the depression my grandfather went thru when my grandmother passed - he followed her 3 months later. I always said he died of a broken heart.

I always figure that the first 3 months are the hardest, especially if they have been married for forever. If you can get the surviving spouse interested and past the first 6 months, you can probably bet on them making it to the anniversary of the passing. If you can get them past the anniversary, they will probably be ok.

My parents were married 42 years when my mother died. That was 16 years ago and my father's still going strong (except he's convinced he doesn't have a hearing problem, everyone who talks to him mumbles), he'll be 81 in November.

Sounds like your Dad found stuff to keep him occupied. My theory is just that tho, I haven't done any categorical research, it's based on mostly anecdotal evidence and some familial observation.

RinglingRingling wrote:

LIPH wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

ph4ever wrote:actually this is not that rare of a thing. I like to think of it as an ultimate act of love.

I remember the depression my grandfather went thru when my grandmother passed - he followed her 3 months later. I always said he died of a broken heart.

I always figure that the first 3 months are the hardest, especially if they have been married for forever. If you can get the surviving spouse interested and past the first 6 months, you can probably bet on them making it to the anniversary of the passing. If you can get them past the anniversary, they will probably be ok.

My parents were married 42 years when my mother died. That was 16 years ago and my father's still going strong (except he's convinced he doesn't have a hearing problem, everyone who talks to him mumbles), he'll be 81 in November.

Sounds like your Dad found stuff to keep him occupied. My theory is just that tho, I haven't done any categorical research, it's based on mostly anecdotal evidence and some familial observation.

I think it boils down to how dependent the remaining spouse is on the deceased spouse. In my grandparent's case it wasn't so much a physical dependance as my grandmother had been bedridden for years before her death. My grandfather had such a huge emotional bond to her that when she died a huge part of him died as well.

People deserve to have a more humane way to die. Too many laws.

ph4ever wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

LIPH wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

ph4ever wrote:actually this is not that rare of a thing. I like to think of it as an ultimate act of love.

I remember the depression my grandfather went thru when my grandmother passed - he followed her 3 months later. I always said he died of a broken heart.

I always figure that the first 3 months are the hardest, especially if they have been married for forever. If you can get the surviving spouse interested and past the first 6 months, you can probably bet on them making it to the anniversary of the passing. If you can get them past the anniversary, they will probably be ok.

My parents were married 42 years when my mother died. That was 16 years ago and my father's still going strong (except he's convinced he doesn't have a hearing problem, everyone who talks to him mumbles), he'll be 81 in November.

Sounds like your Dad found stuff to keep him occupied. My theory is just that tho, I haven't done any categorical research, it's based on mostly anecdotal evidence and some familial observation.

I think it boils down to how dependent the remaining spouse is on the deceased spouse. In my grandparent's case it wasn't so much a physical dependance as my grandmother had been bedridden for years before her death. My grandfather had such a huge emotional bond to her that when she died a huge part of him died as well.

Probably the case. My mom's uncle hit the daily double with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. His wife spent the last 10 years he was alive trying to keep things together and when he passed away, she had nothing left to give. She just pulled into herself, and while she lived another 4 years, it was not what I would call anything approaching good quality to those years. They had been married 55 years when he died.

My parents "The Swans" mated for life (mol) They will celebrate their 65th Anniversay Nov. 21. Dad will be 87 on Nov 20th and Mom on Dec. 23rd. I don't know what will happen when the first one goes. Mom is blind from diabetes, Dad can hardly get around with a bad hip.

They are both "tough old birds" but very dependent on one another

12vmanRick wrote:People deserve to have a more humane way to die. Too many laws.

Agreed.

LIPH wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

ph4ever wrote:actually this is not that rare of a thing. I like to think of it as an ultimate act of love.

I remember the depression my grandfather went thru when my grandmother passed - he followed her 3 months later. I always said he died of a broken heart.

I always figure that the first 3 months are the hardest, especially if they have been married for forever. If you can get the surviving spouse interested and past the first 6 months, you can probably bet on them making it to the anniversary of the passing. If you can get them past the anniversary, they will probably be ok.

My parents were married 42 years when my mother died. That was 16 years ago and my father's still going strong (except he's convinced he doesn't have a hearing problem, everyone who talks to him mumbles), he'll be 81 in November.

As someone we all know and love says, "He's loosing his hearing, but he don't care what most people say!"

Like some have said it sounded like a modern day Romeo and Juliette...

No matter.... love and appreciate them all that you can while you can....You may never get another chance to sit with them and watch their favorite show or take them out and about somewhere or just be with them all that you can.....Dad fell ill in April .........Mom was killed in a carwreck in the end of May coming back from seeing Dad in the hospital, and Dad passed in June.... They were married 56 years.... I really don't think or believe either would have survived long without the other even if the wreck had not happened, and Dad's health had been good....