Economic Factors and Suicide Risk
Economic
Factors
and
Suicide
Risk------------------->
Suicide
Economic
Circumstances: Foreclosure:Eviction: Job loss
Suicide:Bill collectors
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Clearwater mother, her two children found dead in their home
CLEARWATER — William Lavold thought it was a bad joke or a poorly worded expression. Anything other than what it really was.
“I need your help,” the text message said. “Dawn killed the kids.”
It came from his best friend, Murphy Brown. And it meant exactly what it said.
Sometime Friday night, Brown’s wife, Dawn, killed their two
children — Zander, 9, and Zayden, 5 — authorities believe. They say she
then wrapped an electrical cord around her throat, tied it to a ceiling fan and hanged herself.
Lavold said Pinellas County sheriff’s
investigators told him she drowned the children in a bathtub. Officials
said they would not release a cause of death until after an autopsy.
Some neighbors said the killings were unthinkable, something they never expected. Others had seen it coming for months.
A series of setbacks and wrong turns — punctuated by an arrest and financial ruin — had ripped the family apart.
FORECLOSURE WAS THE FINAL STRAW
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JP Morgan Chase Sued in Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A Texas woman filed a wrongful death suit against banking giant
JP
Morgan Chase alleging her husband suffered a fatal heart attack two
years ago as the direct result of foreclosure proceedings from the bank.
Harry Engel, a retired minister from Texas, collapsed in his home days
after receiving an eviction notice from
JP Morgan Chase. His wife, Wanda
Jo Engel, recently filed the lawsuit in Dallas County Court and alleges
the foreclosure was wrongful and that the bank’s actions left her
husband “overwhelmed” in the days prior to his death.
The Engels had been living in the home for 22 years and paid their
mortgage regularly. A notice from the bank advised the couple to
refinance their home. After speaking with an employee at the
JP Morgan
Chase, the Engels followed the employee’s advice to “miss a payment” in
order to better receive government refinancing assistance. It was a move
they would wholeheartedly regret.
After missing the payment, the bank sent a letter to the Engels
asking them to make the missing payment, but the Engels had already
spent the allotted payment on other bills because of their fixed income.
After being rejected for a government refinancing program, the bank
sent notification that they planned to foreclose and evict the Engels.
A Family Torn Apart
Both parties’ account of the story begins to differ at this point.
JP
Morgan Chase maintains that the bank never filed for foreclosure in
court, but instead notified the Engels that the house would soon be in
foreclosure. Wanda Jo Engel say that an employee physically came to her
home and served an eviction notice which triggered her husband’s
eventual death.
“It was just a close family; it’s been a difficult loss,” the Engels’
lawyer Steve Shaver said. “They certainly didn’t expect Mr. Engel to
pass when he did or certainly for the reasons he did.” Shaver does
however maintain that
JP Morgan Chase never did file officially for
foreclosure in a court. Two years later, the family’s home now stands
vacant, but the Engels will tell you that they were left without
something far more important than their home.
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JP Morgan Chase Sued for Causing Wrongful Death by Foreclosure
Harry Engel, a retired minister and resident
of Grand Prairie, TX, passed away in July 2010. His wife and children
have now filed a wrongful death claim against JP Morgan Chase and two
other defendants in Dallas County Court.
The allegation is that the defendants –
JP Morgan
Chase, LPS Field Services and EMC Mortgage, caused intentional
infliction of emotional distress. The defendants are also charged with
gross negligence, trespassing and wrongful foreclosure. Not to mention
deceptive trade and outright fraud.
The Engels had been living in their home and
paying off the mortgage for 22 years. In Feb 2010, they got a letter
from
Chase saying that the mortgage could be refinanced on a lower
monthly payment. When they went to the bank, a
Chase employee named
Michael Paretti allegedly advised them to deliberately miss one payment
so that they could quality for refinancing.
Chase then sent them a letter saying their loan
modification application was rejected and they would have to bring their
mortgage current immediately. They met with Mr. Paretti again, and were
instructed to pay in an amount. They did pay in said amount, but more
letters followed, including a foreclosure notice and then an eviction
notice.
Harry Engel was terrified at the thought of losing
his home and collapsed under the stress on July 1, 2010, a few days
after getting the eviction notice. He died of the stress induced heart
attack in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
JP Morgan Chase then evicted Harry Engel's newly
widowed wife Wanda Engel from their marital home and changed the locks.
Harry and Wanda Engel had been married for 57 years and had three adult
children – Debra, Steve and Josh Engel.
The house is now empty and managed by LPS Field
Services. EMC Mortgage was the foreclosure company used by
Chase. The
lawsuit seeks to reclaim the house and damages for loss of love and
counsel, funeral expenses, future loss of companionship, loss of
inheritance and all legal expenses, among other things.
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11/09/2012 @ 8:33PM
|13,061 views
Spanish Woman Commits Suicide As Foreclosure Agents Walk Into Her Apartment
The Spanish city of Barakaldo, in the Basque country - Photo credit: Wikipedia
The intensification of the financial crisis in Spain, and across
Europe, is having very real effects on the lives of people. Beyond the
rise in the unemployment rate, widespread foreclosures across Spain have
caused at least two suicides over the past few weeks, along with an
unsuccessful attempt in the city of Valencia. The latest case, reported
on Friday, involved a 53-year-old woman who jumped from her sixth-story
balcony in the Basque city of Barakaldo as foreclosure agents forced
open her door.
Spain has been one of the hardest hit victims of the European
sovereign debt crisis. Mired in a deep recession, the Iberian nation
has seen the unemployment rate skyrocket above 25%, with youth
joblessness reaching 50%. The consequence of a real estate bubble,
Spain’s crisis has led to a slew of foreclosures across the nation.
The latest victim has been Amaya Egaña, a former municipal councilwoman for the Socialist Party. According to Spanish daily
El Pais,
Egaña jumped to her death from a sixth-floor balcony on Friday as a
legal team from the local court walked into her apartment to foreclose
on her. Receiving no response after ringing the bell and knocking on
the door, a locksmith opened the door, only to find Egaña
standing on a chair to jump from her balcony. Egaña was found alive, but paramedics had no chances of saving her life.
Egaña’s suicide isn’t the first related
to foreclosures in Spain. Just a few weeks ago, on October 25,
53-year-old Jose Miguel Domingo was
found dead
hours before foreclosure agents arrived at his apartment. Domingo hung
himself after not having been able to pay interest payments on a
€240,000 mortgage that went sour in 2009.
A day after, a man whose name hasn’t been disclosed
jumped from his window
in the city of Valencia. The man attempted to commit suicide minutes
before foreclosure agents arrived at his apartment; this time, though,
paramedics managed to save his life.
The suicide of Egaña has been like the straw that broke the camel’s
back. A social repudiation of banks’ foreclosure practices has made its
way to Madrid, where the Administration of Mariano Rajoy is
working on a plan to give subprime debtors some relief. According to
El Pais, Rajoy is looking to put into place a two year foreclosure moratorium for subprime debtors.
Spanish banks are in dire need of cash. Despite a €100 billion bailout-pledge by the EU, Spanish financials, from
Bankia
which has already been bailed out to major global banks like BBVA, are
looking to strengthen their balance sheets. Much like in the U.S., they
are doing whatever they can to extract payment from debtors.
In the U.S., banks’ attempts to speed up the foreclosure processes
resulted in the robo-signing scandal, by which major mortgage
originators were using fraudulent protocols to processes thousands of
mortgages in record time. Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo,
Citigroup, and Ally Financial were forced to fork over $25 billion to
settle a suit brought Attorneys General from across the nation.
With Spain falling even deeper into the rabbit hole, as Rajoy refuses
to take a bailout and borrowing costs rise, the situation could
deteriorate further. Beyond economic losses, Friday’s events are direct
evidence that financial crises have the potential to destroy the lives
of ordinary individuals.
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Norman Rousseau, Foreclosure Victim, Commits Suicide During Wells Fargo Lawsuit
Last Saturday night, Norman Rousseau reportedly spent hours trying to fix an old RV.
He was facing the prospect of foreclosure, and he wasn't about to see
his family forced onto the street. Then mid-morning, with the RV’s
engine in pieces, he shot and killed himself, CBS Los Angeles reports
Rousseau, who lived in Newbury Park, California, has left a wife and
stepson to deal with an ongoing battle with Wells Fargo, according to a lawsuit filed in January 2011 by Norman and his wife, Oriane (h/t Alternet).
“Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Mr. Rousseau at this
difficult time. The eviction has been postponed and we will continue to
work with Mrs. Rousseau," a Wells Fargo spokesperson said to The
Huffington Post in an email. "Despite current reports, we tried
repeatedly to find affordable options for the family."
The trouble started when the Rousseaus refinanced their mortgage,
finding out much later that their interest rate actually increased after
they did so, the lawsuit states.
On top of that, the lawsuit claims that the couple was convinced to
roll their credit card debt into the loan, ostensibly prolonging and
increasing that debt as well, according to Chris Gardas, the attorney
representing the Rousseau family.
At the time, the deal "tasted like honey" to Rousseau, who believed
she and her husband had made a solid financial decision, Gardas told The
Huffington Post.
Then in May 2009, Wells Fargo allegedly denied it had received the
Rousseaus payment for that month. Later, the bank would change its
story, blaming the mix-up on putting a stop on the couple's check, CBS Los Angeles reports.
What ensued were repeated and inaccurate requests for payment from
Wells Fargo, along with excessive fees and a denied loan modification, according to the lawsuit.
That climaxed in a lockout that appears to have led Norman Rousseau to
his death, according to the lawsuit. The eviction has now been delayed
two weeks, according to the family's attorney.
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#1 Bestselling Author; Founder, AskaLoanModGuru.com
Foreclosure Related Suicide on the Rise
Posted: 07/17/2012 11:15 am
Since the decline of the economy, more than 2.5 million
homeowners have faced foreclosure. The loss of a home can be devastating
to a family, and the emotional toll can add to their financial stress.
The resulting depression can leave them feeling hopeless. In fact,
research by Janet Currie of Princeton University and Erdal Tekin of
Georgia State University concludes that there is a link between
foreclosure rates and mental and physical health problems, as well as
suicide attempts.
The Wall Street Journal reported
that the research showed that there were 39% more suicide attempts for
homeowners facing foreclosure than those who are not.
On June 28, 2012,
Michael Marin,
a millionaire in Arizona, died in a courtroom after being convicted of
arson for burning down his mansion because he wasn't able to make his
mortgage payments. Initial reports claim that he appeared to put
something in his mouth shortly before suffering from convulsions and
collapsing after the verdict was read. A container labeled "cyanide" was
found in his vehicle.
In May, 2012, California resident
Norman Rousseau was
attempting to repair his RV so his family would have a place to live
after being notified of an upcoming lockout. Mr. Rousseau and his wife
had refinanced their home, receiving a higher interest rate than they
previously had. Wells Fargo subsequently didn't credit them with a
payment, which led to a loan modification denial. Unable to repair the
RV, Rousseau was distraught and committed suicide.
These are just a couple examples of foreclosure-related suicides.
While the situation may seem hopeless, homeowners should know that there
are programs available to help them avoid foreclosure, find alternate
housing, and treat their anxiety, stress, or depression. Recent changes
to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) will make more people
eligible for a loan modification which will permanently lower their
mortgage payment. Bank settlements stemming from allegations of wrongful
foreclosure filings have spurred a requirement for some of the top
lenders to offer struggling homeowners options to prevent foreclosure,
as well. In addition, housing counselors are available and trained to
help homeowners find options suitable for their circumstances.
It's important to know, though, that while foreclosure can be a
stressful and emotional time, it doesn't have to create despair or
hopelessness. In fact, events such as these could create stronger
families, a deeper commitment to overcoming challenges, and increased
strength as you work toward a brighter future. For instance, some find
that stress is relieved after they are relieved of debt after a
foreclosure. Others are able to find suitable alternatives to
foreclosure.
Create a positive mindset and become your own best advocate, learning
your options and persevering. This will help you avoid stress as you
continue to fight for your home. Take time out while you seek to save
your home to enjoy your family, get some exercise, relax, and do things
that make you happy. Above all, remember that you are not alone.
Millions of homeowners have also faced foreclosure. Have faith that you
are doing everything you can to save your home, while appreciating the
people, love, spirituality, joy, and happiness that life offers.
Homeowners who are stressed or suffering from anxiety or
depression should seek medical help and counseling. The National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline lists warning signs of suicide and hosts a suicide
prevention hotline, 1-800-273-TALK, to help those in distress.
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Foreclosure notice leads to suicide of 'nice lady'
By Frank Juliano, Staff writer
Published 12:57 am, Sunday, January 3, 2010
MILFORD -- A lot of people say "Over my dead body." Vincenza Garcia meant it.
Rather than comply with a foreclosure notice and allow a marshal to
evict her from the home she loved at 55 Earle St., Garcia took her own
life on Oct. 1. And, in the eyes of her attorney, her story is
emblematic of the devastation the foreclosure epidemic has inflicted on
so many once-proud homeowners.
Garcia, who had won the city's Freedom Lawn contest last summer for
her beautifully landscaped yard, loved the small house near Point Beach
she had owned since 1996.
She was "a nice lady who was always working on her garden," said
neighbor Phil Vetro. "Every time I'd see her, she'd be out there
working."
But when the introductory "teaser" rate on her newly refinanced
mortgage expired, Garcia, who lived alone and was by all accounts a
private person, fell hopelessly behind. There were opportunities to dig
out from under, or to at least delay, foreclosure as 2009 wore on, but
she represented herself and failed to navigate the complex system.
And so, aware that the marshal and a moving crew would be at the tidy
gray ranch house before 8 a.m., the 56 year-old woman made her final
preparations.
According to an 18-page incident report by the Milford police
department, Garcia wrote e-mails to her sister and to her lawyer at 2
a.m., telling them to expect a call in the morning.
She wrote several letters to family and friends, including one in
which she enclosed 37 Lotto tickets and wrote "Have fun!" on the
envelope.
These were left on the kitchen table, along with a list of her family
members and her lawyer, with their phone numbers and a Federal Express
package that was found to contain an old black and white photo and two
invitations to President
George W. Bush's inauguration.
Garcia then filled the first 11 pages of a notebook with messages of
love for her family and her last wishes and left that on the nightstand
in her bedroom.
The woman put her four cats in the bathroom and closed the door,
taping to it a list of their names and her veterinarian's phone number.
And then, according to the police report, she apparently put some
music on her stereo, laid down on her bed and fired a single .22-caliber
bullet into her head.
When
Marshal Neil Longobardi
arrived at about 7:30 a.m. he found the sliding door to the deck
unlocked, and a note taped to it with names and phone numbers. Eerie
"Halloween" music was playing, the marshal said, and there were letters
and the package on the table. He called police.
Garcia's brother, who is the executor of her estate and lives on Long Island, did not return phone calls for this story.
West Haven attorney
Stephen Small
said that Garcia ought to be the human face of the foreclosure crisis.
The Milford woman finally hired Small in late August, after the
foreclosure had been filed. His appearance notice is the last entry in
her thick file in New Haven Superior Court.
"I've seen many, many desperate people in her situation," Small said.
Vincenza Garcia is someone "who didn't reach out," her lawyer said, and
failed to understand the predatory nature of the loan she agreed to.
Across the country there are tales of how job losses and home foreclosures have driven some to take their lives.
"For the first time in all the years I've done this, I'm hearing
things mentioned like, `He lost his job. She lost her house. We're in
foreclosure,' " veteran Minnesota medical examiner Dr. Janis Amatuzio
told
The Star Tribune in December.
In Gaithersburg, Md., four clients of the nonprofit
Family Services Inc., which counsels people going through foreclosures, attempted to commit suicide this year, according to
The Gazette, a local newspaper.
Experts say that it's always hard to draw explicit conclusions in
cases that are likely to involve a host of complex facts. Nonetheless,
in Connecticut, suicides were up in 2009 from the year before, according
to statistics from the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Garcia's was one of 320 self-inflicted deaths this year, compared to 282
in 2008.
The biggest jump was among her age group, 51 to 60 year olds. They
accounted for 71 of the suicides reported in Connecticut this year,
compared to 52 in 2008, state figures show.
In Garcia's case, she had no idea of the vulnerable situation she was
putting herself into when she agreed to her refinance her home with a
sizable, variable-rate mortgage in 2006.
The New York native, divorced since the 1970s, took out a $281,000 mortgage in June, 2006, from
Sand Canyon Corp., which had formerly been known as Option One Mortgage Co.
The loan was packaged by Merrill Lynch Corp. as part of its
"Investors' Trust Asset-Backed Certificates," but when that company fell
on hard times, LaSalle Bank, of West Hartford, was made the trustee of
the loan.
When the 6.99 initial interest rate -- nearly 2 points higher than
was available from other lenders -- rose to 9.1 percent in June, 2008,
Garcia missed a $2,300 monthly payment, and with late fees, liens and
other charges, and never caught up.
"It's a machine," Small said of the mortgage refinancing industry.
"These people appraise your house for what they need, and the goal is to
get the commission. They are kids in boiler rooms all over the country,
who send a notary to your house with the papers.
"They'll tell you not to pay your mortgage that month because the new
loan will be in effect by the end of it," Small said. "But these people
are not your friends and they are not there to explain the paperwork.
"They are there to get you to sign, and by the time you realize that
it is a variable rate you have no choice but to sign because you're
already behind," he said.
The workout sheet in Garcia's court file shows that the fair market
value of her home was $285,000 but her unpaid debt had climbed to
$299,570. She had a negative equity of $14,000 in the property.
But Garcia made mistakes too, the biggest of which was not having
someone review the loan during the three days she had to pull out of it,
Small said.
Then she represented herself at two court mediation hearings, in
February and March, at which, according to the file, Garcia admitted
that she was in default without offering a modification plan.
In her file is the "Notice of Available Help" given to every property
owner in a foreclosure action. It suggests applying for emergency
mortgage assistance from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority,
among other programs, and carries this warning in boldface type: "You
should consult with an attorney to assess your rights under this act."
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AZUSA, Calif. -- Authorities say three people found dead in a
fire-gutted home in Southern California were all siblings who committed
suicide.
The three were found dead Dec. 6 in the aftermath of a house fire in
Azusa. Also discovered at the home were two dead dogs and two dead cats,
along with 22 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Public records show the house was in foreclosure, and family
friend Nora Dewester told the Tribune that the siblings were expected
to move out the day they died. Friends also say the siblings' father
died earlier this year and their mother died several years ago.
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http://www.datamasher.org/mash-ups/number-deaths-due-suicide-100k-foreclosure-rates
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Such was the case of a 62-year-old disabled Navy veteran who fought against Wells Fargo to get his home back.
