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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow can this happen? Guy's body sits in house for 4 years after he kills himself
Just how alone and unwanted was this guy?
A man who was believed to have relocated four years ago was found in his home in January during a foreclosure visit to the home according to the New York Daily News. A 41-year-old-man from Wisconsin, David Carters remains were found inside his home with a 9mm pistol located on his chest.
The mans nearly skeletonized body was located on the second floor of the house that he owned. An autopsy report concluded that cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. They also determined that he must have killed himself sometime in 2007.
This came as a shock to neighbors and friends who knew Carter. They all believed he had moved to New Mexico. He had told many of his friends that he had planned on moving to the state after he quit his job, and after his disappearance, they just concluded that was what had happened.
A few reports mentioned that Carter suffered from depression on and off for many years. Also, because of his condition he frequently would disappear from sight for a while. No one thought anything serious had occurred because of his disappearance.
Carter owned his own home, so even after property taxes started to accrue, the city still left him alone. The city even continued to mow his grass and clear the snow from his walkway and just added the fees to his property taxes. After the electricity was turned off, many believed the house had become abandoned.
Carter had no siblings, and he never knew his father. His cousin, Kevin ONeill, reported that his mother passed away in 1997. After her death, he started to drink more and became more withdrawn and depressed than usual. More details are coming to light on how Carter could have remained dead in his home for four years without notice. Friends initially reported that they did not think anything was wrong.
Carter did leave behind a daughter. He and her mother never married, but medical records proved that the girl was his. She is now 14. His property is now going to the county, but since it has become clear that he did have a daughter that could change.
If this story teaches anybody anything, hopefully it is do not take depression lightly. It may not seem that serious, but people who are suffering from depression often feel like they have no hope. Maybe Carters story, no matter how sad, can end up helping someone else who is in trouble.
http://www.bangstyle.com/2012/02/mans-body-found-after-four-years-in-home/
pansypoo53219
(20,986 posts)they just assumed he drove away.
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)Some people who suffer from it are very adept at hiding the severity of their depression from others. I've often heard that the most seriously suicidal people carefully avoid arousing suspicion among others of their intent. I've seen it up close and in person, too.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Last edited Tue Mar 6, 2012, 11:18 PM - Edit history (1)
She or he is the one who notices strange cars in the area, teenagers cloaked like they're on a stealing mission, and houses seemingly abandoned without notice and without maintenance of the yard or house.
I hope that I would not let years go by, if one of my neighbors disappeared w/o saying goodbye, once I noticed the unkempt yard. I like to think I'd check the appraisal district online, seeing that he owed back taxes and was still the property owner.
It sounds like he planned this so that no one WOULD notice his absence right away.
MineralMan
(146,324 posts)One of my neighbors, an elderly man who was a widower, stopped picking up his morning paper. I noticed that after two days. I went to his door, rang the bell and then knocked loudly on the door. I heard a voice from inside, saying "help." I called 911 immediately, but couldn't get into the house. I hollered to him that help was coming. He had fallen and broken his hip.
Since then, I've been even more nosy.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)When I lived in the city, I actually liked my nosy neighbor for that very reason. Where I live now, we are all nosy neighbors because we all know each other and quite honestly strangers driving up our rural road, which we maintain ourselves not the county, are scrutinized.
Raine
(30,540 posts)is a big reason he was so depressed.
Withywindle
(9,988 posts)Depressed people often feel that no one cares about them, even when it's really not at all true. They withdraw and don't maintain relationships, and so it starts to become true, and they perceive that...it's a downward spiral.
Suicidally depressed people often feel that they're a terrible burden and everyone they know would be better off without them.
fujiyama
(15,185 posts)It reminds me of the song Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles.