Timothy Earl Ragas 'murder-suicide': Relatives say depression and financial woes may have led to deaths
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: On Thursday, February 9, a dreadful crime scene was uncovered in the city of New Orleans. A family of four were found dead in what looked like a murder-suicide. Officers were alerted about the grave circumstances by one of the four family members before they arrived at the house in the suburban Harvey neighborhood. As police continue to investigate, the family's relatives' have spoken out about why the dreadful incident happened.
Sheriff Joe Lopinto of Jefferson Parish reportedly said that Timothy Earl Ragas called 911 early on Thursday to inform him of a bleak sight that would soon unfold at the residence. "We can't continue to live like this. You'll find four bodies when you get here," Lopinto said Ragas told him on the call. Officers soon arrived only to discover the bodies of Ragas, 43, Joanna, 45, their sons Eric Thorneblom, 20, and Timothy, 13, who had special needs. Authorities reportedly found a message and weapons and believed the family died in a murder-suicide, as per WWL.
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What did the relatives say?
The family's relatives reportedly said that they believed a combination of depression, personal health difficulties and financial struggles may have caused this heartbreaking outcome. Ragas' sister-in-law, who does not want to be named, said, "He wasn't working the last, almost three years," adding, "He did get a job recently and he had to lose it because [Joanna] was having medical issues and they had an autistic son and [Tim] had to be here to take care of him because he wasn't socially where a lot of people could take care of him."
The family's relatives also claimed that they were assisting, but they were unaware of how dire the situation actually was. She said, "Depression, it's terrible. He couldn't pull himself out of the depression and medically she was going through things."
'It looks like financial problems'
Speaking on the matter, Lopinto said, "It looks like financial problems and stuff have left a destitute situation, and they took it into their own hands unfortunately this morning," per the Daily Mail.
Dr Reggie Parquet, of the Tulane University School of Social Work, emphasized that anyone experiencing significant financial stress or depression should seek immediate help. Parquet reportedly said, "It creates a level of stress, it creates a level of pressure, it creates a level of depression if they don't have the resources to cope with those things, or the financial resources to help with their needs, poor outcomes can happen."
GoFundMe campaign for family's funeral
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Mary Ann Romano, Ragas' sister Betsy Ragas Saladino's sister-in-law, to assist the family with funeral costs. The page stated, "My sister-in-law Betsy Ragas Saladino lost her brother, sister-in-law, nephew and step-nephew today."
The statement continued, "The family will need assistance as they prepare to bury four members of their family. Your help will be greatly appreciated during a very trying time for the family. Thank you in advance." The required sum of $4,000 has been successfully raised with a total of 225 donations as of Saturday, February 11.