Last week, authorities say, Christopher Wood killed his wife and three young children before killing himself in their rented home in Middletown. Wood, 34, reportedly left six notes detailing his depression and his financial hardships. The family had taken out two mortgages on a home they owned in Florida, owing double the house's worth.
In January 2008, a top executive of a collapsed subprime mortgage firm based in Columbia killed his wife and then threw himself off the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Walter Buczynski was a vice president at Fieldstone Mortgage. He spared his two young children.
Most who commit suicide kill only themselves.
In February, Baltimore advertising executive Howard "Jack" Marks Jr., 63, took his own life, and his wife told police who responded to the couple's Glyndon home that financial woes had threatened to sink their firm, John Marks Associates. "They were in danger of losing the business," a Baltimore County police officer wrote in a report.
"I think he was so embarrassed by the situation that he didn't want certain people to know it," said Jon Levinson, vice president at Alex Cooper Auctioneers and a friend of Marks' for 20 years. "People could sense there were issues, but nobody knew how serious it was."
On Feb. 6, Marks and his wife, Virginia, awoke at 3 a.m. "due to the fact that they had been going through some financial issues with their business," the police report stated. Jack Marks, drinking and taking muscle relaxants, told his wife to "make sure you take credits on the television buy" - an apparent reference to their business.
About 8:15 a.m., an employee of the residence was washing a car when he saw Marks sitting on a tractor. Marks called the employee over and asked him to "take care" of his wife. Marks then drove to woods near the house and shot himself.
coping with the strain
* Heed these warning signs that financial problems may be affecting one's emotional state: persistent sadness or crying; excessive anxiety, irritability or anger; lack of sleep or constant fatigue; increased drinking; illicit drug use, including misuse of medications; difficulty staying focused; apathy about things that usually matter; and inability to function well at work, school or home.
* Use these coping techniques to help manage stress: try to keep things in perspective, recognize what's good in life and stay hopeful; strengthen connections with family and friends who can provide emotional support; engage in activities such as exercise or hobbies; and develop new employment skills that can ease money woes.
* Seek help: Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-TALK (8255), or the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233) go online for "Getting Through Tough Economic Times" at www.samhsa.gov/economy.
Sources: U.S. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, National Domestic Violence Hotline
inside
Inquiry turns to father's financial dealings. PG 7
Warning signs and coping techniques. PG 7
Marbella: Sadly, it's not the economy alone. PG 2
