Tag: Suicide

Death on the Home Front: Women in the Crosshairs

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Military Policy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, SuicideLeave a comment

stop the violenceDeath on the Home Front: Women in the Crosshairs

Wake up, America.  The boys are coming home, and they’re not the boys who went away.

On New Year’s Day, the New York Times welcomed the advent of 2009 by reporting that, since returning from Iraq, nine members of the Fort Carson, Colorado, Fourth Brigade Combat team had been charged with homicide. Five of the murders they were responsible for took place in 2008 when, in addition, “charges of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault” at the base rose sharply.  Some of the murder victims were chosen at random; four were fellow soldiers — all men.  Three were wives or girlfriends.

This shouldn’t be a surprise.  Men sent to Iraq or Afghanistan for two, three, or four tours of duty return to wives who find them “changed” and children they barely know. Tens of thousands return to inadequate, underfunded veterans’ services with appalling physical injuries, crippling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suck-it-up sergeants who hold to the belief that no good soldier seeks help.  That, by the way, is a mighty convenient belief for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, which have been notoriously slow to offer much of that help.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-jones/death-on-the-home-front_b_181728.html

A Stranger in My Home Premiered ‘Trailer Park Terror’ on ID: Rick Taber Killed Next Door Neighbor Micky Widmer in Minnesota (October 20, 2013)

On By AdministratorIn Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Suicide, True CrimeLeave a comment

Mickey Widmer and her boyfriend Darnell Mears move into a Minnesota trailer park looking for a fresh start, but after meeting Rick Taber, a reclusive neighbor, he grows too close for comfort. Good neighbors go bad; and bad neighbors spill blood. -Trailer Park Terror, A Stranger in My Home (S1,E2)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $3.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict. Download the ID Go app or purchase ID True Crime Files & binge away.

Related Links:
Trailer Park Terror | A Stranger in My Home | Investigation Discovery (S1,E2)
Trailer Park Terror | A Stranger in My Home | Investigation Discovery (website)
Trailer Park Terror | A Stranger in My Home | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Michaela Widmer Found Murdered in Minnesota Cemetery; Suspect Ricardo Taber Guilty of Stolen Valor, Died by Suicide (July 25, 2009)

Cody Hooks, US Air Force, Murdered his Wife Kaylla Rihn & Then Killed Himself in San Antonio, Texas (2013)

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Suicide, USAFLeave a comment
facebook
Kaylla Brooke Rihn and SrA Cody Hooks, US Air Force

Senior Airman Cody Hooks and Kaylla Brooke Rihn were found dead in their apartment from an apparent murder-suicide on October 17, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas. Their friends reported this was two days after they heard them having a late night argument. Although family were not aware of any previous issues with the couple. Senior Airman Cody Hooks, 21, was considered a suspect and Kaylla Brooke Rihn, 22, was listed as a homicide victim in the shooting. They found Rihn dead with a bullet wound to one eye and Hooks with a .40-caliber wound to his temple. A Beretta handgun was found near his body. SrA Hooks was a member of the 802nd Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio. Hooks and Rihn were married only two weeks before the murder-suicide yet family didn’t learn she was married until after she was found dead. This was SrA Hooks first tour of duty with the Air Force and it is unknown if he deployed in support of the war efforts.

“Suicides have plagued the armed forces for years, with self-inflicted deaths rising after the U.S. went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. A record was set last year (2012), with the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps logging 514 suicides.” -My SA

Related Links:
Murder-suicide suspected in pair’s deaths

David Chesser: A Man Changed Forever By PTSD

On By AdministratorIn PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, SuicideLeave a comment

PTSD Invisible WoundsDavid Chesser: A Man Changed Forever By PTSD

Three hours before David Chesser, wife Jenifer Chesser was on the phone with her husband.
David had said he was going for a walk. When he called her, it was clear he’d been drinking heavily. Actually, he’d been sober for a month but in the past couple of days he began to unravel again, she said.

Back from the war, Chesser was unable to find regular work and unable to keep it when he did. He was drowning in back rent payments, and their landlord called to say they were out of chances. “It’s hopeless,” he told her over the phone. “If I was dead, at least you and the kids would be taken care of.”  Then he hung up.

Read more: http://lakewood-jblm.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/xyxyxyx

Living through nine suicides: After the deaths of so many friends, sailor determined not to lose another

On By AdministratorIn PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, SuicideLeave a comment

Veterans Crisis Line

Living through nine suicides: After the deaths of so many friends, sailor determined not to lose another

WASHINGTON — The first suicide was in 2007. Mike Little was preparing to head to Iraq for a year when he heard that his close friend, a National Guardsman who had inspired Little to join the military, had killed himself.

The second was before Little deployed to Afghanistan, about two years later. He couldn’t go to the funeral because he was due on a plane. The next three came during the naval reservist’s yearlong deployment in Afghanistan. Another suicide happened just as he got home, in late 2010. He’s up to nine now.

“At this point, I’m taking it personally,” he said. “I deployed twice, I came home, I struggled. I feel responsible that I didn’t reach out to them. Maybe if I had …”

Little, a petty officer 2nd class in the Naval Reserves, fought his own battle with suicidal thoughts and won, as much as any person still struggling with depression and post-traumatic stress can say they’ve won.

He has trouble sleeping. He calls the Veterans Crisis Line almost weekly.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/living-through-nine-suicides-1.240240

Army explores predicting suicides as a way to prevent them

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, SuicideLeave a comment

Army explores predicting suicides as a way to prevent them

Even as thousands of U.S. troops were dying in Iraq and Afghanistan during the 12 years of war following 9/11, about 3,000 perished by their own hand, nearly the same as the number of people lost on the day of those terrorist attacks.

Indeed, suicide is a perennial stain on the military that’s growing worse each year, a trajectory baffling to military leaders and devastating to the thousands of shattered families left behind.

Read more: http://www.armytimes.com/article/20131005/NEWS/310050008/Army-explores-predicting-suicides-way-prevent-them

12 Steps of PTSD by Randy Hartman, Ph.D

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Sexual Assault, Suicide1 Comment

12 Steps of PTSD by Randy Hartman, Ph.D

Breaking the Silence Around PTSD in the Military

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, SuicideLeave a comment

PTSD

Breaking the Silence Around PTSD in the Military

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is heavily stigmatized in the military/police/veterans community. First, any form of mental illness is often seen as a sign of weakness — a cardinal sin in those organizations. Second, there is a pervasive belief that anyone claiming PTSD is faking it in order to receive medical benefits. It is often held that the only people ‘entitled’ to have PTSD are those who saw combat, witnessed genocide, etc, and that anyone else is a faker.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/jeff-rosemartland/ptsd-and-the-military_b_4016389.html?just_reloaded=1

Why Everyone Should Be a Wingman

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, SuicideLeave a comment

1st Air Cavalry Brigade ground troops build on advanced skillsWhy Everyone Should Be a Wingman

After 12 years with the nation at war, it’s no wonder that military families are under stress and overwhelmed. Spouses and service members alike deal with the strain of prolonged separations. Husbands and wives of deployed members endure extended periods where they must raise children alone.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sue-hoppin/why-everyone-should-be-a-_b_4017005.html

Officials: Veteran Shoots Self at VA Hospital in Temple (September 9, 2013)

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, In Their Name, Military Policy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Suicide1 Comment

Veterans AffairsA veteran shot himself inside a public restroom at the Department of Veterans Affairs Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center in Temple on Monday morning and was taken to Scott and White Hospital’s trauma unit, VA officials said.

Officials say the veteran, who they are not identifying, walked into the hospital around 7:55 a.m. and went to a public restroom near the entrance and shot himself.

VA officials also would not disclose the type of treatment the man was receiving at the medical center.

Read more from the Austin American-Statesman here.