Woman charged with assisting in a suicide...

[dust-in-the-wind]

What do you think?

Investigators: Coralville woman encouraged a suicide in Olin

A Coralville woman was arrested in Jones County earlier this month on charges that she enabled the suicide of a friend in 2021.

www.thegazette.com

 

[foreverlanguish]

Investigators said there were no messages to the woman telling her to not kill herself.

She was respecting her friend's choice. This whole thing just pisses me off tbh. Pro lifers at it again I guess. I don't think the woman was assisting her friend for nefarious reasons. She was just being supportive.

 

[EvisceratedJester]

Honestly, I don't think that she deserves to be arrested. It doesn't even seem like she was "encouraging" her. It seems like the woman had already made up her mind and Jennifer was just trying to be supportive of her decision. I honestly respect her for respecting her bodily autonomy and helping her out instead of calling 911 on her and getting her locked in grippy sock jail.

 

[diy-event]

What do you think?

Investigators: Coralville woman encouraged a suicide in Olin

A Coralville woman was arrested in Jones County earlier this month on charges that she enabled the suicide of a friend in 2021.

www.thegazette.com

My guess this a hard case to prove because it has never been laid often. But it's shitty you have laws that allow for it

 

[avalon_]

I don't know, it feels a bit sketchy that she was waiting in front of her apartment while she committed suicide, and even explicitly told her that she wanted to be the one who finds her because no one else could "handle it". It shouldn't be enough to charge someone with a felony (based on the info we have), but I still can't shake the feeling that this might be a little more than just 'respecting a friend's wishes'. Just my two cents.

 

[Opera]

What do you think?

Investigators: Coralville woman encouraged a suicide in Olin

A Coralville woman was arrested in Jones County earlier this month on charges that she enabled the suicide of a friend in 2021.

www.thegazette.com

The fact there's laws against it when she seemed to have good intentions. It didn't seem like cyberbullying or people wishing she died, her friend was just supportive and made sure she had a reliable way out without pain. She even called the police for her so no one had to find her body unexpectedly. This is just sad. It really does highlight the importance of deleting everything before you go or else someone else will take the blame for taking your own life.

 

[MyTimeIsUp]

I don't know, it feels a bit sketchy that she was waiting in front of her apartment while she committed suicide, and even explicitly told her that she wanted to be the one who finds her because no one else could "handle it". It shouldn't be enough to charge someone with a felony (based on the info we have), but I still can't shake the feeling that this might be a little more than just 'respecting a friend's wishes'. Just my two cents.

It was actually 2.5 hours later (see screenshot). Communication stopped at 2am and she was there by 4.30am, so she wasn't waiting for her to kill herself, a bit far fetched. Now obviously it would look odd to knock on the door at 4am, so it's obvious why she waited, not sure why she sat in her car though, perhaps she was in shock, I don't know.

Perhaps she wanted to say goodbye to her after her death, who knows.

It is still heartbreaking to lose someone to suicide, even if you know it's coming. Nothing can prepare you for it.

Why are you even speculating this? That wasn't the question. The question was your thoughts on the woman being prosecuted for assisting suicide, nothing else.

Sad that people think this. This is precisely why I would never discuss this shit with any friends on my phone (unless it was referring to my own suicide - although I wouldn't now as I have since learned no one is to be trusted), because you can get into serious, serious shit. Rather die than do 10 years in prison for respecting a friends wishes and merely being supportive. What the fuck has the world come to.

At the end of the day, she obviously planned it, hence testing the rope and shit. So evident here. No one wants to admit that some of us actually plan it. Not every suicide is impulsive. Not everyone can be saved

In my opinion, this is happening because they think she could've been 'saved' when we all know that's not true. They want someone to be held accountable for a death here. Fucked up. No one helped her when she was alive so hmm ok. People only seem to give a fuck when someone is fucking DEAD.

 

[CatLvr]

You have to be VERY careful if you are the "supportive" friend to not look like the "enabling" friend.

After reading what little is in the article the DA will have no problem establishing a derogatory mens rea mindset. It's a key component in criminal law, and is usually required to be proven in addition to actus reus, which is the physical elements of the crime. That woman is going to jail for a long time. Imho, of course.

From AI because it's faster than me trying to remember:

The prosecution must prove mens rea beyond a reasonable doubt to convict a defendant. Mens rea can be used at both the initial charging stage and during the trial.

There are four types of mens rea, which are ranked in order of severity:

• • Acting purposely: The defendant consciously intends to commit the crime. For example, if a defendant targets a victim and assaults them, they would have acted purposely.
  • Acting knowingly: The defendant is aware that their actions will have a particular result, and still proceeds.
  • Acting recklessly: The defendant acted recklessly.
  • Acting negligently: The defendant acted negligently.

A fifth type of culpability is strict liability, which means that intent doesn't matter. This is often the case for business owners, where the liable person is responsible for the injury.

 

[tbh2023]

What do you think?

Investigators: Coralville woman encouraged a suicide in Olin

A Coralville woman was arrested in Jones County earlier this month on charges that she enabled the suicide of a friend in 2021.

www.thegazette.com

What do you think?

Investigators: Coralville woman encouraged a suicide in Olin

A Coralville woman was arrested in Jones County earlier this month on charges that she enabled the suicide of a friend in 2021.

www.thegazette.com

Assisting someone to die is illegal and wrong. If someone wants to give me advice on how to die, they better die too. Wrong is wrong the law is clear.

 

[CatLvr]

Assisting someone to die is illegal and wrong. If someone wants to give me advice on how to die, they better die too. Wrong is wrong the law is clear.

Exactly. Just because someone doesn't think it is fair or right, doesn't mean it ain't so.

 

[tbh2023]

You have to be VERY careful if you are the "supportive" friend to not look like the "enabling" friend.

After reading what little is in the article the DA will have no problem establishing a derogatory mens rea mindset. It's a key component in criminal law, and is usually required to be proven in addition to actus reus, which is the physical elements of the crime. That woman is going to jail for a long time. Imho, of course.

From AI because it's faster than me trying to remember:

The prosecution must prove mens rea beyond a reasonable doubt to convict a defendant. Mens rea can be used at both the initial charging stage and during the trial.

There are four types of mens rea, which are ranked in order of severity:

• • Acting purposely: The defendant consciously intends to commit the crime. For example, if a defendant targets a victim and assaults them, they would have acted purposely.
  • Acting knowingly: The defendant is aware that their actions will have a particular result, and still proceeds.
  • Acting recklessly: The defendant acted recklessly.
  • Acting negligently: The defendant acted negligently.

A fifth type of culpability is strict liability, which means that intent doesn't matter. This is often the case for business owners, where the liable person is responsible for the injury.

Thank you for sharing! Very detailed.

Exactly. Just because someone doesn't think it is fair or right, doesn't mean it ain't so.

I agree with you, totally

 

[ijustwishtodie]

Absolutely abhorrent. I'm sick of this pro suffering world and how pro lifers like to find somebody to blame even if that person were to be supportive to them. All that person was doing is being supportive. Chances are due to how shitty society is and how it caused some people to ctb, society is more likely of a bigger contributor to her death but of course they don't ever blame society because it's meant to be perfect in their view. Fuck this world.

Assisting someone to die is illegal and wrong. If someone wants to give me advice on how to die, they better die too. Wrong is wrong the law is clear.

Morality ≠ legality. It's illegal but I won't ever see it as immoral

 

[CatLvr]

Absolutely abhorrent. I'm sick of this pro suffering world and how pro lifers like to find somebody to blame even if that person were to be supportive to them. All that person was doing is being supportive. Chances are due to how shitty society is and how it caused some people to ctb, society is more likely of a bigger contributor to her death but of course they don't ever blame society because it's meant to be perfect in their view. Fuck this world.

Morality ≠ legality. It's illegal but I won't ever see it as immoral

But arguing "morality" will not keep you out of jail. Unfortunately. I worry about anyone here who stays on the phone with anyone CTBing. DAs are always looking for slam-dunks -- cases that are high profile and guaranteed to stir up the Moral Majority on any given issue. This, unfortunately, is one of those types of cases. It doesn't help that established legal process, the law and precedent aee ALL firmly on the DA's side.

 

[ijustwishtodie]

But arguing "morality" will not keep you out of jail. Unfortunately.

True but this doesn't mean that I have to agree with the principle of it. Of course we have to realistic and make sure that we don't get into this position in the first place so that we don't get in jail but I will still never agree with the morality of it all

 

[tbh2023]

Absolutely abhorrent. I'm sick of this pro suffering world and how pro lifers like to find somebody to blame even if that person were to be supportive to them. All that person was doing is being supportive. Chances are due to how shitty society is and how it caused some people to ctb, society is more likely of a bigger contributor to her death but of course they don't ever blame society because it's meant to be perfect in their view. Fuck this world.

Morality ≠ legality. It's illegal but I won't ever see it as immoral

Everyone see things differently. I respect your opinion.

 

[CatLvr]

True but this doesn't mean that I have to agree with the principle of it. Of course we have to realistic and make sure that we don't get into this position in the first place so that we don't get in jail but I will still never agree with the morality of it all

For the record, I do not disagree with you.

However, I am grateful for this thread. I have been concerned about members here "being with" other members since I began reading goodbye threads here but felt it would be bad form to make these comments in a thread for members to remember a valued member's passing. And I could never figure out how to start the conversation myself without sounding like a pro-lifer, which I am decidedly NOT.

 

[L'absent]

Nothing surprising. We are under the pro-life regime and these are the rules.

 

[Overwhelmed52]

Pro-lifers get a real kick from hunting someone down and ruining their life but they won't let someone else peacefully end their life. All because they refuse to have any empathy for another person's suffering. The whole thing is so wrong and such a waste.

 

[-Link-]

My guess this a hard case to prove because it has never been laid often. But it's shitty you have laws that allow for it

The law is necessary to deter exploitation by bad actors.

In this specific case: At best, she was reckless.

"I want to make sure we get everything done right so you can rest easy." "Back to the chair. Have you tested it out yet? Look here woman, tell me if you tested the rope strength too." Other news sources about it mention having discussed "logistics" and "rope length."

This reads as if to overstep into the realm of "suicide encouragement," and based on the available information, it sounds to me like law enforcement is acting in good faith as far as charging her.

That woman is going to jail for a long time. Imho, of course.

I'd expect they'll throw the book at her and go for maximum possible sentence unless she pleads out. This seems like the kind of case where they'll want to make an example out of the defendant.

 

[CatLvr]

The law is necessary to deter exploitation by bad actors.

In this specific case: At best, she was reckless.

"I want to make sure we get everything done right so you can rest easy." "Back to the chair. Have you tested it out yet? Look here woman, tell me if you tested the rope strength too." Other news sources about it mention having discussed "logistics" and "rope length."

This reads as if to overstep into the realm of "suicide encouragement," and based on the available information, it sounds to me like law enforcement is acting in good faith as far as charging her.


I'd expect they'll throw the book at her and go for maximum possible sentence unless she pleads out. This seems like the kind of case where they'll want to make an example out of the defendant.

My interpretation also. I'd LOVE to see discovery and read the depositions. She may have actually be trying to be a good friend but she really did herself no favors. I also think she messed up by initially talking to law enforcement. I was always told it is much easier for a lawyer to explain away what you DIDN'T say than it is to explain away what you DID say.

 

[astr4]

But arguing "morality" will not keep you out of jail.

not to be pedantic but jury nullification does exist. far fetched but! there are fail safes in the american legal system for "immoral" laws.

 

[CatLvr]

not to be pedantic but jury nullification does exist. far fetched but! there are fail safes in the american legal system for "immoral" laws.

I'm aware, but the judge can also override just about anything anybody can come up with, up to and including a verdict. "Fail safe" is an oxymoron when it comes to the American legal system.

 

[Tig]

Sad story, no doubt.
In the end, all of this could have been prevented, if the two women involved were talking privately, as they should have been about such matters as suicide, in the privacy of there own home as Constitutionally guaranteed in the USA, instead or texting.

No evidence, no crime.
The whole world has gone crazy.

Thanks for reminding me, all cell phones and devices linked to my partner and myself need be completely destroyed when we CTB like "dust-in-the-wind" Pun intended.
Can you just imagine when SaSu finally gets hacked and everyone here gets pinched ?
It's just matter of time......

Glad I'm going soon.

 

[EternalShore]

Thanks for reminding me, all cell phones and devices linked to my partner and myself need be completely destroyed when we CTB like "dust-in-the-wind" Pun intended.
Can you just imagine when SaSu finally gets hacked and everyone here gets pinched ?
It's just matter of time......

it is a good idea to try and maximize your privacy, yesu~ :3
anyways, thankfully, contrary to the misconceptions of those who aren't acquainted with us, no one here actually advocates for and tells people to commit sewer slide, so we should be fine~ :) excluding the fact that the "justice" system isn't always just nor fair like one would hope~ >_<

 

[tbh2023]

But arguing "morality" will not keep you out of jail. Unfortunately. I worry about anyone here who stays on the phone with anyone CTBing. DAs are always looking for slam-dunks -- cases that are high profile and guaranteed to stir up the Moral Majority on any given issue. This, unfortunately, is one of those types of cases. It doesn't help that established legal process, the law and precedent aee ALL firmly on the DA's side.

True!

For the record, I do not disagree with you.

However, I am grateful for this thread. I have been concerned about members here "being with" other members since I began reading goodbye threads here but felt it would be bad form to make these comments in a thread for members to remember a valued member's passing. And I could never figure out how to start the conversation myself without sounding like a pro-lifer, which I am decidedly NOT.

I don't know

My interpretation also. I'd LOVE to see discovery and read the depositions. She may have actually be trying to be a good friend but she really did herself no favors. I also think she messed up by initially talking to law enforcement. I was always told it is much easier for a lawyer to explain away what you DIDN'T say than it is to explain away what you DID say.

i don't think she was a good friend tho

 

[rozeske]

I don't even know why some of you are questioning the morality of it and her intentions... on a suicide forum. I don't believe she did anything wrong, she was supportive of a persons choice and made sure she doesn't end up a vegetable stuck in torment for years to come. What she didn't do is protect her self better against the law. I hope she gets good lawyers, this doesn't deserve 10 years.

 

[dumbnhappy]

patron saint of suicide

 

[InversedShadow]

Sadly in some countries even assisting in it can get one guilty like as if it was a crime like a murder

 

[dontwakemeup]

That's a risk I would never take! If my friend wanted to ctb, I'm ok with that. All I ask is don't tell me the date or any details because of cases like these. Thar lady will go to prison and I agree she should. I find it strange she never tried to prevent this or talk her out of if. She seems like the type person to watch you die and enjoy the show.

 

[Apathy79]

It sounds like she wanted to make absolutely sure she succeeded and was intricately involved with the planning and aftermath. Agree with yellowjester, something about this doesn't pass the sniff test.

For a first time ever prosecution on this law, I suspect they've gone for a slam dunk case. The issue is it might solidify the law for far less egregious cases, even things we've probably said here.