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New York man who allegedly helped wife kill self charged with manslaughter
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Published November 28, 2015
Willard Skellie is charged with manslaughter after police say he bought his wife a gun that she used to kill herself.
Authorities have charged a U.S. man with manslaughter after police say he helped his wife kill herself.
The Post-Star newspaper of Glens Falls, New York, reports that 59-year-old Kathy Skellie was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Saturday at the home she shared with her husband.
According to court records, 69-year-old Willard Skellie, who wanted to help his wife "deal with her pain" confessed to buying a shotgun, showing her how to use it and leaving it loaded while he went hunting. He told police she was despondent because of mental health problems.
Skellie is quoted in the report saying she had asked him to buy the gun so she could kill herself. The report also said she had an unsuccessful suicide attempt earlier this year with a knife.
Police said Skellie was questioned and charged Sunday with second-degree manslaughter after failing a lie detector test.
He is being held on $100,000 bail. It couldn't be determined if he had a lawyer.
The couple has made local newspaper reports before because they took in at least one orphan with HIV several years ago. His wife was reported moved by articles about the lives these children lead.
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The Associated Press contributed to this repor
https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-york-man-who-allegedly-helped-wife-kill-self-charged-with-manslaughter