JANESVILLE, Wis., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- A 47-year-old nurse allegedly says she helped her boyfriend commit suicide because he was upset his former wife and children had moved out of state.
Debra Lynn Glissendorf on Friday faced assisted suicide charges for allegedly feeding Stephen Brown 18 sleeping pills and muscle relaxants.
"He wanted to die," Glissendorf said in a videotaped interview with police. "I wanted to help him."
But the criminal complaint filed against Glissendorf, 47, said Brown, 31, told ambulance attendants he had not wanted to hurt himself.
The complaint said police found Brown seated in a recliner and questioned him, although he was somewhat incoherent. He gave police a note reading, "She did it. SB."
Glissendorf allegedly told investigators she had put the pills directly into Brown's mouth. The action occurred following dinner, which included alcohol, with neighbors.
After the dinner, Brown had called his mother and seemed upset about his ex-wife, his children and an upcoming child support case.
Glissendorf allegedly said after the call, Brown said he might as well just die and she said she would be willing to help him.
The statute under which Glissendorf was charged has been on the books since 1849 but has gone to court only once before. Last month, a 59-year-old Green Bay woman pleaded guilty to smothering a deaf-mute friend who was suffering from prostate cancer.
Glissendorf was free on $10,000 personal recognizance bond.
