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by FlaNative from Central Fla

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Would you end a loved ones life???
Jun 6, 2008 | 4:33 AM
Category: News
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An 82 yr old Deltona man shot and killed his 72 yr old wife because she was in constant pain and declining health from a colon operation. 

It's OK to take the life of an unborn child for convience, but murder when a loved one has no quality of life, is elderly and in constant pain.

Is this the ultimate display of love or murder?  If your spouse was in constant pain and asked you to end their life, would you?  Should we have a law allowing doctors to help you end your life in that situation?  Was Dr "K" right?

What do you think????

 

With his wife in declining health since a colon operation in December, an 82-year-old man told Volusia County sheriff's investigators he decided to put an end to her pain Thursday morning when he retrieved a handgun that family members thought was hidden from him and shot her once in the head as she slept.

Robert Benjo faces a charge of second-degree murder with a firearm in the shooting of Peggy Benjo, 72, sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. He was being held without bail at the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.

Deputies were called to the home in the 1600 block of Rim Avenue about 10:15 a.m. by a relative who received a call from Robert Benjo, Davidson said.

Deputies arrived within three minutes, and a sheriff's dispatcher called the man and persuaded him to walk outside, where he was detained, Davidson said. Deputies went inside long enough to determine that the woman was dead and then left the home and waited for investigators to obtain a search warrant so crime-scene technicians could search for evidence, he said.

Armed with a search warrant, they re-entered the house about 2:30 p.m. and found a .22-caliber handgun they think was used to kill the woman, Davidson said.

Benjo told investigators his wife had been hospitalized during the past week.

He told investigators both had trouble falling asleep Wednesday night "and that she told him that she wanted her pain to end and that she no longer had the will to live," Davidson said.

The couple finally drifted off to sleep, but when he awoke Thursday morning, Benjo told investigators, he decided to shoot his wife.

Family members said Robert Benjo was depressed when they visited the home Wednesday and he said he felt like shooting himself, Davidson said.

Although they knew there was a gun in the house, "they thought it was hidden where he couldn't find it," Davidson said.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/crime/orl
-mercy0608jun06,0,5868486.story


24 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 24
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toddt read my blog
Jun 6, 2008 | 6:29 AM

I think it is okay to do. No different than if you hit some road kill and it was suffering.
signal12 read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 7:01 AM

I could see it, However if your going to do it that way. You should off yourself after the act because they are going to throw the book at you....

To a elderly couple (between them its a mercy thing of relieving suffering from both parties involved). To the world your a murderer.

I watched a woman total a brand new car while trying to avoid hitting a cat. Not me, new car or cat? hmmmmm sorry kitty..
80sMetalHead read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 7:05 AM

I completely understand why he did it, but I don't think I could bring mnyself to do it. I think this man loved her very much and was very brave to it. I don't criticize him at all, but I, myself, am a chicken.
FlaBoyJack read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 7:30 AM

At his age, he doesnt care if he goes to jail. The woman he loved is gone. I do have mixed feelings on this. If I was on a jury,I would find him guilty, however, when we got re-seated for the sentencing phase, I would vote to have him get probation. Going to prison would serve no purpose. Not like he will go out and start mass murder. You have to walk a mile in his shoes. My Mother and Father have had to make the decision twice now with their parents, concerning pulling the life support from them. It was hard and painful but the right thing to do.
BornToBeWild read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 7:44 AM

The way the laws are is a battlefield! Yes I would do the same for my loved one, however, because of the way laws are written and if my loved one was still moble with their hands, I would hand them the gun and leave the room!
SushiLover read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 8:41 AM

I'd give them a Wasibi paste sandwich, and a gun place them in the bath tub and leave for take out...
Abunai read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 8:46 AM

Interesting how we can abort the defenseless children by the thousands, but an adult is a differnt story... Maybe the defense will be that it was just a late term abortion by 72 years....
TAllen read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 8:56 AM

I completely miss how you can compare an abortion to this situation.

I don't think anyone can answer the question what would you do, until you are faced with that decision, and hopefully its not a question you will ever have to answer.

He did what he thought was right for BOTH him and her.
smitty read my blog
Jun 6, 2008 | 9:02 AM

If I were part of the jury I would make
sure she was indeed suffering by
reviewing medical records. If it was
found that she was in constant pain,
I would acquit, whole heartedly.

I mean, why is something like this illegal?
What, the drug companies are going to lose
a "preferred customer"?

Don't know if I would do this myself
as I have never faced this type
of decision which is why he shouldn't
be judged until you've gone through what this poor man and woman had to endure.
ADeltonian read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 9:10 AM

Right passage of mind, but shooting isnt the way, its too messy and dirupts the lasting images of the person you love so much to put them out of their misery to start with.

A simple OD of something that would make them sleep and never wake up would have been a better choice.
Nightmare read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 9:37 AM

There is a word for this; Euthanasia or assisted suicide which is only legal in Oregon last time I checked. I approve of it to end human suffering. If you're dying, would you rather go peacefully thinking I had a good life or waiting for the end in a lot of pain?
ZiggyFla read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 1:00 PM

I do believe that a person suffering of a terminally ill sickness should have the right to end the suffering. I believe using a gun and shooting someone is not the best relief and I agree with the Oregon law. I watched a friend of mine die of a long painful death with cancer at the age of 42 and if you've ever experienced that you would probably agree on a euthanasia law, a drug of some kind for a peaceful way to go. Could I ever do that to a loved one? All I know is that if my friend had asked me to and it had been LEGAL, I probably would have.
mscsailor read my blog
Jun 6, 2008 | 1:54 PM

Abunai says - "Interesting how we can abort the defenseless children by the thousands, but an adult is a differnt story"

Good point. I guess it might be that the unborn child is considered the "property" of the mother.
Twizlled read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 3:49 PM

Its a very sad story, and I feel for all members of the family. When he's found guilty I don't think he should go to jail. I'm sure he will be in his own torment for a long time. And I would not fear for the safty of the public with him on the street. Just a very sad , sad story.
Roscoe43 read my blog
Jun 6, 2008 | 3:58 PM

I understand the decision this man made. I couldn't do it. I watched my late husband die of lung/liver/spine cancer. He always stated that he would want me to end his life if he couldn't do it. After we got his diagnoises I hid all the guns or gave them to my loved ones for safe keeping. I knew that he would do it. Instead I watched a healthy 6'2 225lb man melt down to under 90 lbs before he passed. It was a horrible sight to watch your loved one go through that.. the images are forever in my head.. I had a wonderful 20 year marriage.. but the last 1 1/2 is what keeps going thru my mind.
smitty read my blog
Jun 6, 2008 | 5:15 PM

That's horrible stuff Roscoe43 and I'm sorry.
Just try to remember the good times of a long
life together and feel good about the 20 year
marriage as I'm sure you both loved each other very much.

I agree with those that said a pill
should be administered to end the suffering
of those that REALLY need it and want it!
Abunai read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 5:41 PM

mscsailor.. yea.. Thats true.. abortion is really about a women's rights...
swansong2 read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 6:09 PM

what I dont understand is that he was denied bail??????? I see him as no threat to anyone!!!!!
Oh I get it, a suspected child molester walks out on 35,000.00 bail to possibly reoffend but someone like this guy that wont reoffend has to sit in jail awaiting trial
RandyLoo read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 6:50 PM

I couldn't do it.
Abunai read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2008 | 7:15 PM

Likely because he is mentally unstable at present time, and if he was released and then killed himself, the state would be neglegent.

For me, after working in the EMS field, and in the ER, you can't help but feel for those who we literally just keep on morphine or other drugs and watch them do nothing but breath. I've seen families that literally begged God to come take their loved ones already because of their suffering.

Modern medicine has availed us the ethical delima now of sustaining "clinical life" almost indefinately. There really comes a time where just because you can... should you? I've seen people that had their DNRs, living wills, and legal wishes, and still kept alive until they could be validated.

Maybe its time to consider availing Hospice care to those who can't afford it. Many times its about comfort, and had this man been able to share her last days in a more pleasant enviroment and physical situation, it might have been different...
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FlaNative

Born and raised in Tampa, I'm a 5th generation Fla Native and proud of it! My mom raised 6 of us by herself, in a time long before welfare and food stamps. She worked 3 jobs, which is probably where I learned my work ethic and my distain for people who are too lazy to work and "expect" their welfare checks and food stamps year after year, generation after generation! I spent over 20 years in the Air Force, going in during Viet Nam and leaving after Gulf 1, and have a son currently in the Army preparing for deployment to Iraq. The loves of my life are my wife, kids, grandkids and the Harley (not necessarily in that order, but don't tell the wife, kids or grandkids)!! When not working on my second "career", I ride with a group called the Patriot Guard (patriotguard.org), attending the funerals of our heros who gave their lives for our freedoms. Most in our organization use our "personal days" or "without pay" to attend with permission of the family, and are proud to do it!! This group started because of people such as those at Westboro Baptist "Church" who began protesting these funerals with signs such as "thank God for dead soliders". NEVER AGAIN!!! Yep, I'm a right wing, conservative redneck. I don't like people using abortion as birth control. I think the ACLU is the worst thing that ever happened to this great country. I think 99% of the lawyers give the rest of them a bad name. I promise that if you come into my house in the middle of the night you will be carried out and buried. I think no one should be on welfare for more than 2 years during their life I don't think I should have to pay to support your kids fathered by someone whose name you don't know. I think every county should have a jail just like the Sheriff in Maricopa County AZ with tents and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I don't care if what i say offends you. I think illegals should be put on a bus and taken back across the boarder. I don't think I should have to press 1 for English. I think you have the right to burn our flag, but I promise you won't be successful if I'm around and don't care if I get sent to jail while your left-wing, liberal, Michael Moore, Rosie, Alec Baldwin America haters cheer!!!! I will PROUDLY go to jail to protect HER!!! If we disagree here, that's fine. You have to right to be wrong. I don't take it personal and hope you don't either. Land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave...

Member Since: 2/11/2007


 

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