An 86-year-old man is charged with first-degree murder after he allegedly shot his wife in the head, saying she was ill and they couldn’t afford medication.
Local media says William Hager was arrested Monday after he called the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say Hager led investigators to a bedroom where the body of his 78-year-old wife, Carolyn Hager, was on the bed covered in a blanket. She had a bullet wound to the head. He told them she had been ill but they couldn’t afford medicine.
He told detectives he had been contemplating shooting her for days. He said she wanted to die but never asked him to kill her.
Hager was being held without bail Tuesday. The public defender’s office had no comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
This is a traject story. Having struggled to pay for meds myself, I certainly feel for this poor couple. Perhaps they were unaware of various programs that would assist is costs? Of course this process can be complicated and confusing especially for older people. It is ridiculous in this country what some meds cost. I feel that the Doctors and Pharmaceutical companies are in bed with each other. The Doctors push the high cost meds.
It’s a sad story. It’s a shame he had to go to drastic measures such as this. He actually hot two with one shot because he will probably die in prison or a mental ward.
People not being able to afford medical insurance out there is a heart break. I would have brought that up with the prescribing doctor. Sometimes there are programs, or free samples to help a person. If I were of a mind that some one needed to die to make things better, I’d have chosen myself. Not playing God with another persons life. I’m afraid of were the economy is today, there’s a lot more of that going on then what makes the news. I have medical insurance, and went to a ear nose, and throat specialist, for a lump on the side of my throat. This specialist sent me to several places. One for a cat scan of my neck. The specialist figured it was a blocked saliva gland. The cat scan people verified that. So back at the specialist office he says lets try another test. He sends me to another Hospital across town so they could do an ultrasound test on me, that came up with the same conclusion. My copay with my insurance cost me 11 hundred dollars, which I was asked to pay up front for. I paid each time, but told each doctor that I could afford that, but what about other people? Not to mention the same insurance company I’ve had since my early 30s, has turned to you know what. I’m 62 now. I’ve been suffering from COPD in it’s final stages, so why do these doctors put me through all of this…The only reason I’m still alive is the fact that the business I was at I own. In 2010 I was told I’d not be around much longer. I’m still here paying my own way, and not being a burden on anyone, but my wife. I’ve thought several times about not taking any of these drugs any more as my life is just a painful life even with medications. With no quality of life any more, it makes me wonder why the doctors keep sending me to specialists… Truthfully it’s my own fault since I liked smoking tobacco. In the last ten years I’ve become a self made millionaire, and won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I’m happy my wife will. God Bless America.