Jeff Wellborn, center, chief of a mental health squad, and his officers try to help a confused elderly woman in New Orleans on Dec. 7.
A Katrine evacuee family faced with the nightmare of eviction has committed suicide in San Antonio:
Three Katrina evacuees dead in apparent double murder-suicide
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - A family of three Hurricane Katrina evacuees facing eviction were found dead Friday in their North Texas apartment in what police said appears to be a double murder-suicide.
The discovery was made after police were called by the apartment complex to assist in the eviction, Grapevine police Sgt. Todd Dearing said. He didn't know how long the Louisiana family had not been paying rent.
Found with gunshot wounds were a 40-year-old man, a 37-year-old woman and a 14-year-old boy. Dearing said police found a shotgun believed to be the weapon.
Dearing said the scene inside the apartment "had the appearance" of a murder-suicide, but he couldn't say for certain.
He said police were searching for a 16-year-old daughter who they believe was living away from the family. Identifications were withheld pending notification of relatives.
Dearing said a resident informed the complex Thursday that they heard what sounded like three gunshots near the victims' apartment. Grapevine police were called to the apartment but left when no one answered the door.
"There was no reason for us to make entry," Dearing said. "They said it was their usual method of not answering the phones or door because they were being evicted."
Dearing said the family was supposed to be out of the apartment Tuesday, but the complex gave the family a few extra days. The family was receiving assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Dearing said.
Apartment management could not be reached for comment.
Dearing said the victims will be taken to the Tarrant County medical examiner for autopsies.
http://www.woai.com/...
As you may know, I maintain that Bush is committing deliberate ethnic cleansing of New Orleans and as many African-American evacuee families as he possibly can get away with.
Now the early evictions with no trailers to go to are clearly helping to cause deaths, especially for this at-risk family with a suicidal head of household.
This is completely outrageous. Please recommend so the MSM picks this up and people are reminded of the piss-poor Katrina response.
And why has the Katrina Relief Bill of $29 billion not been passed yet--BECAUSE OF TED STEVENS STICKING ANWR ONTO THE DEFENSE BILL THAT HAD KATRINA RELIEF BILLIONS TACKED ON!
Senate leaders are hoping early Wednesday for a procedural vote that would clear the way for passage of a defense budget bill that includes $29 billion for Katrina relief for Mississippi and Louisiana.
The House has already passed the defense bill and Senate and House negotiators have already signed off on the Katrina agreement, brokered by U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.
But final passage of the defense bill in the Senate remains shaky, primarily because of the addition of a proposal to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve in Alaska. There has been a bitter battle over drilling in ANWR for more than 20 years.
Senate Democrats have threatened a filibuster over drilling to block the bill. To prevent filibuster and pass the bill, supporters must have 60 votes on a motion for cloture, or an end to debate, on ANWR. Senate leaders have said they believe they have the votes, and many observers are expecting a cloture vote early on Wednesday. If it passes, opponents to the ANWR drilling would have up to about 20 hours to speak against the proposal.
"I would still say that the hard part is over with," Cochran spokeswoman Jenny Manley said on Tuesday. "Negotiating the bill was the hardest part. Now we just need it procedurally to fall into place. We feel good about it."
Sun-Herald
People should know about this. The GOP is to blame. Mighty nice of them to stick the most controversial rider there could be on the bill with the Katrina money!
And why should people be getting evicted anyway? Hurricane Charley evacuees are still living rent-free in government trailers a year and a half later.
Update [2006-1-1 16:13:38 by Sherlock Google]:Mr. Ruiz was suicidal it turns out. Found by Chantedor. But where is real help and counseling for the mentally ill? Here is more on increased suicides among Katrina victims:
Suicides escalate because of Katrina