murder/suicides and the financial crisis..

[79CamaroDiva]

terrible..

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/13/eco....ap/index.html

As economy sinks, officials fear violent solutions

(AP) -- An out-of-work money manager in California loses a fortune and wipes out his family in a murder-suicide.

A 90-year-old Ohio widow shoots herself in the chest as authorities arrive to evict her from the modest house she called home for 38 years.

In Massachusetts, a housewife who had hidden her family's mounting financial crisis from her husband sends a note to the mortgage company warning: "By the time you foreclose on my house, I'll be dead." Then Carlene Balderrama shot herself to death, leaving an insurance policy and a suicide note on a table.

Across the country, authorities are becoming concerned that the nation's financial woes could turn increasingly violent, and they are urging people to get help. In some places, mental-health hot lines are jammed, counseling services are in high demand and domestic-violence shelters are full.

"I've had a number of people say that this is the thing most reminiscent of 9/11 that's happened here since then," said the Rev. Canon Ann Malonee, vicar at Trinity Church in the heart of New York's financial district. "It's that sense of having the rug pulled out from under them."

With nowhere else to turn, many people are calling suicide-prevention hot lines. The Samaritans of New York have seen calls rise more than 16 percent in the past year, many of them money-related. The Switchboard of Miami has recorded more than 500 foreclosure-related calls this year.

"A lot of people are telling us they are losing everything. They're losing their homes, they're going into foreclosure, they've lost their jobs," said Virginia Cervasio, executive director of a suicide resource enter in southwest Florida's Lee County.

But tragedies keep mounting:

• In Los Angeles, California, last week, a former money manager fatally shot his wife, three sons and his mother-in-law before killing himself.

Karthik Rajaram, 45, left a suicide note saying he was in financial trouble and contemplated killing just himself. But he said he decided to kill his entire family because that was more honorable, police said.

After the murder-suicide, police and mental-health officials in Los Angeles took the unusual step of urging people to seek help for themselves or loved ones if they feel overwhelmed by grim financial news. They said they were specifically afraid of the "copycat phenomenon."

"This is a perfect American family behind me that has absolutely been destroyed, apparently because of a man who just got stuck in a rabbit hole, if you will, of absolute despair," Deputy Police Chief Michel Moore said. "It is critical to step up and recognize we are in some pretty troubled times."

• In Tennessee, a woman fatally shot herself last week as sheriff's deputies went to evict her from her foreclosed home.

Pamela Ross, 57, and her husband were fighting foreclosure on their home when sheriff's deputies in Sevierville came to serve an eviction notice. They were across the street when they heard a gunshot and found Ross dead from a wound to the chest. The case was even more tragic because the couple had recently been granted an extra 10 days to appeal.

• In Akron, Ohio, the 90-year-old widow who shot herself on Oct. 1 is recovering. A congressman told Addie Polk's story on the House floor before lawmakers voted to approve a $700 billion financial rescue package. Mortgage finance company Fannie Mae dropped the foreclosure, forgave her mortgage and said she could remain in the home.

• In Ocala, Florida, Roland Gore shot his wife and dog in March and then set fire to the couple's home, which had been in foreclosure, before killing himself. His case was one of several in which people killed spouses or pets, destroyed property or attacked police before taking their own lives.

"The financial stress builds up to the point the person feels they can't go on, and the person believes their family is better off dead than left without a financial support," said Kristen Rand, legislative director of the Washington D.C.-based Violence Policy Center.

Dr. Edward Charlesworth, a clinical psychologist in Houston, Texas, said the current crisis is breeding a sense of chronic anxiety among people who feel helpless and panic-stricken, as well as angry that their government has let them down.

"They feel like in this great society that we live in we should have more protection for the individuals rather than just the corporation," he said.

It's not yet clear there is a statistical link between suicides and the financial downturn since there is generally a two-year lag in national suicide figures. But historically, suicides increase in times of economic hardship. And the current financial crisis is already being called the worst since the Great Depression.

Counselors at Catholic Charities USA report seeing a "significant increase" in the need for housing counseling.

One mental health counselor said half of her clients were on some form of antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication. The agency has seen a decrease in overall funding, but it has expanded foreclosure counseling and received nearly $2 million for such services in late 2007.

Adding to financially tense households is an air of secrecy. Experts said it's common for one spouse to blame the other for their financial mess or to hide it entirely, as Balderrama did.

After falling 31/2 years behind in payments, the Taunton, Massachusetts, housewife had been intercepting letters from the mortgage company and shredding them before her husband saw them. She tried to refinance but was declined.

In July, on the day the house was to be auctioned, she faxed the note to the mortgage company. Then the 52-year-old walked outside, shot her three beloved cats and then herself with her husband's rifle.

Notes left on the table revealed months of planning. She'd picked out her funeral home, laid out the insurance policy and left a note saying, "pay off the house with the insurance money."

"She put in her suicide note that it got overwhelming for her," said her husband, John Balderrama. "Apparently she didn't have anyone to talk to. She didn't come to me. I don't know why. There's gotta be some help out there for people that are hurting, (something better) than to see somebody lose a life over a stupid house."

[Mike]

bartenders and my job have the best job security right now........all the people worried about money are drinking their sorrows away or snapping and killing/robbing someone

[NJSPEEDER]

Guess again Mike. According to one of the Philly papers hookers are actually making out fantastically during this financial crisis. lol

I was dying when I read it, I mean seriously, who thinks to ask hookers about how the financial crisis is affecting business?

[shane27]

its sad that people waste their life cause of money problems

[Rich189]

Originally Posted by cbrrmike

bartenders and my job have the best job security right now........all the people worried about money are drinking their sorrows away or snapping and killing/robbing someone

I agree our job and the police probably have the best job security there is. They arrest them we hold them and I'm sure your seeing the rise quicker then I will as they dont come to me until convicted.

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by shane27

its sad that people waste their life cause of money problems

Agreed. However, all that is anecdotal. That **** happens all the time, it is just getting press now.


America has been living over its collective head for years. All these years while driving around I saw way too many McMansions with expensive cars and $50K+ landscaping. All I did was shake my head. There just are not that many high paying jobs in the world. Now the bills are due. I hope I keep my job, because in the next few years it will be cheaper to get stuff done, like work on my house and cars.

[WayFast84]

reminds me of the story of john list.

[shane27]

Originally Posted by cbrrmike

bartenders and my job have the best job security right now........all the people worried about money are drinking their sorrows away or snapping and killing/robbing someone

agreed along with liquor store owners, any place of business for food, drugs etc.

[ar0ck]

Don't forget education! Many families will no longer be able to support private schooling so their will be an influx of students in public schools creating a demand for more teachers & aids. To back it up the No Child Left Behind act will still be in effect giving the successful school districts plenty of government backing.

[NastyEllEssWon]

this is direct proof that poverty leads to violence/crimes and the american social system is crap.



our local authority just proved it.


Poverty/Liquor/Police


ever wonder why theres a bar/liquor store on every corner in the less than 'favorable' areas. just upper class america hating on the little man.

Today 06:21 AM
cbrrmike bartenders and my job have the best job security right now........all the people worried about money are drinking their sorrows away or snapping and killing/robbing someone

this quote coming directly from a cop proves our system is defunct

[Knipps]

that doesn't prove squat. just shows people make poor decisions.
what's the "system" have to do with how people handle stress?

[NastyEllEssWon]

they create the financial problems
they provide the 'solution'



for example...for those that can't follow


if you take someone who you know has problems. you create more problems and you keep creating problem on top of problem your ultimately going to lash out against whats causing the problems.

thats what the govt does. they inflate the prices. screw up the economy. bail out their friends with large debt...and **** on the poor people while doing this.


sure they didnt pull the trigger but they put the weapon in the killers hand.

[firehawk1120]

I love stories like this. It weeds out the week minded fools who take the easy way out off the streets of our society, unfortunately they take innocent people with them but I consider that population reduction.

Yeah I know I sound evil but I don't feel sorry for these people who got in over their heads and live beyond their means. Quit trying to keep up with the jones's and live your own life. Good ridance to you.

[NastyEllEssWon]

this is the type of thing that happens everyday in the 'ghettos'. no one cares until it hits white suburbia

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

just upper class america hating on the little man.

So it's the upper class opening up bars in the ghetto?

I'm down and out right now man, to the point where I almost did something VERY VERY stupid the other day while I was alone and emotional...however it's certainly not the fault of the "upper class" that I'm in this position.

I just find it funny that the people that "made it" in life are the scapegoats for the people that didn't or haven't yet.

[NastyEllEssWon]

certainly isnt the lower class

[Frosty]

So because someone owns a bar they're upper class? Please. By your logic upper class people wouldn't even be in "those type of areas" so why would they open business up there.

[NastyEllEssWon]

you think people that own bars actually work in em?

[Knipps]

So in your theory, it's not someone's fault they can't find a job.. it's the man keeping them down. NOT that there was another, more qualified person for the position.

A man's drinking problem is all part of a larger conspiracy to keep those that are lower class in their place?

Damn.

[Frosty]

Most of the ones around here yes and even if that's not the case they don't employ a few people from the area? All the bartenders I know work in the same town or the next town over from where they live.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

this is direct proof that poverty leads to violence/crimes and the american social system is crap.



our local authority just proved it.


Poverty/Liquor/Police


ever wonder why theres a bar/liquor store on every corner in the less than 'favorable' areas. just upper class america hating on the little man.



this quote coming directly from a cop proves our system is defunct

what makes it defunct? i made my comment off of statistics and the fact that EVERY person i talk to at other jails in ANY state complains of the same overcrowding problems that we do.

btw, hate all you want, but im corrections. i dont do anything until the ****up has already gotten himself arrested

[Knipps]

Originally Posted by cbrrmike

what makes it defunct? i made my comment off of statistics and the fact that EVERY person i talk to at other jails in ANY state complains of the same overcrowding problems that we do.

btw, hate all you want, but im corrections. i dont do anything until the ****up has already gotten himself arrested

Mike, just out of curiousity (& you don't have to answer) but what percent of people would you say are in there for drug offenses?

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Knipps

Mike, just out of curiousity (& you don't have to answer) but what percent of people would you say are in there for drug offenses?

probably between 60-70 i have never tried to do the math though so i only know the amount of people that actually tell me their charges lol.

[Knipps]

ok thanks

[79CamaroDiva]

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

you think people that own bars actually work in em?

show me a bar that's not a chain where the OWNER makes over $100k/year in salary and I'll show you a liar with a nice side business. I'm not talking about the business profits, i'm talking about the "upper class" owner.

Bars are demographically in the area's they are because people will go to them. there's no one trying to keep anyone down, its people making their own future.