Former Teacher Posted Tragic Suicide Note on Facebook Before Killing Himself (VIDEO)

maandag 23 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Rebecca Stokes 1 hour ago

A former high school teacher took his own life last week after posting a suicide note on Facebook. Sources say the man, Christopher Swanson, 41, was despondent after losing his teaching license and may have been obsessed with a former student.

His body was found in front of a fountain on the Mercyhurst University campus in Erie. Police say he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. In previous Facebook posts, Swanson had mentioned that his former student was now a freshman at Mercyhurst, but that is currently unconfirmed. 

The tragic questions: If Swanson was so open about his plans, why did no one reach out to help him until it was too late? Did no one read it? Did no one take him seriously?

In addition to posting on Facebook, Swanson also had a website where he discussed the turns in his life that he believed had contributed to his increasing feelings of hopelessness. Chief among them, his belief that his former student would never reciprocate his feelings.

Adding to this tragedy is that in spite of his website and Internet activity, Swanson was unable to connect with resources that could have provided help. For all its size, the Internet can still be an exceptionally lonely place. What a tragedy.

His death prompted Mercyhurst President Tom Gamble to reach out to the university community via video. Gamble implored people to turn to their faith in this troubling time.

What would you do if you thought you saw a suicide note online?

Please call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in case you are worried about yourself or someone else.

Image via Michael Schreifels/Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rebecca Stokes

Rebecca is a writer who lives in Brooklyn with her cats. She is probably even at this moment spilling food on herself.

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Chris Harrison and This Former 'Bachelor' Star Should NOT Be Dating

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Mary Fischer 3 hours ago

Late last week, rumors started flying around that Chris Harrison is dating Bachelor reject Selma Alameri, prompting many of us to scratch our heads and wonder how in the heck these two managed to get together.

Oh come on, remember Selma? The chick from Sean Lowe's season who was too embarrassed to kiss him on TV but then wound up planting a fat one on him right before he sent her packing? (Ohhh, that Selma.)

Yeah, well supposedly she and Chris were seen looking all lovey-dovey at a bar in L.A. last Thursday, and one source says he was introducing her as his girlfriend.

But it sounds like there isn't any truth to the claims, because Selma is denying that she and Chris are an item. She told E! News, "We happened to be at the same place but we were not together. He's a good friend and a sexy guy, sure, but we are not dating."

Whew! That's a relief. No disrespect to Selma, but she doesn't exactly seem like Chris' type. He's a great guy and all, but something tells me as a newly divorced man, he's not exactly in the mood to take things slow and steady in the physical department, if you know what I mean. (Dude totally wants to get it on by the second date.)

But it probably is about time for Chris to get back out there and play the field a bit, which is why he shouldn't avoid the reality TV scene altogether. OMG. Why hasn't ABC made him The Bachelor yet?!? He's only, like, the perfect candidate -- and he could even save whoever the host of his season is some work by handling all aspects of the rose ceremony himself. "Ladies, this is my final rose tonight. If you did not receive one, get the hell out of here because I think you're ugly, dumb, psychotic, insert derogatory adjective here."

Or if he's really dead set against being The Bachelor, former contestants of the show aren't a stupid place to look for love -- he just needs to go after someone he has a bit more in common with than Selma. What about AshLee Frazier? I hear she's available -- and she's definitely ready for something serious. Or how about all those rumors saying Chris was into Emily Maynard during her season? (Can you blame him?) They'd be pretty cute together.

Sigh. Don't worry Chris, the perfect girl is out there. But while you're looking for her, you should probably cross anyone off the list who isn't willing to go to the fantasy suite before tying the knot.

Do you think Chris and Selma are right for each other?

Image via ABC

Click the "Like" button below if you're a fan of The Bachelor(ette) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Fischer

is the writer behind The Mommyologist, and the mom of a future famous comedian. Her current loves include Pinot Grigio on ice and Harry Styles -- in that order.

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Former Cheerleader Dies After Asthma Attack and 'Friends' Dump Her Body Roadside (VIDEO)

dinsdag 3 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Kiri Blakeley 2 hours ago

When you hear that phrase, "What is wrong with people nowadays?!" it seems to apply to stories like these. I think it's fair to say that the vast majority of us, if our friend was having a massive asthma attack, would call 911. Or drive her to the hospital. Or something. But one person is in jail and three others are facing charges in Pickens County, Georgia, after their beautiful 20-year-old friend, Taylor Smith, reportedly suffered an asthma attack while hanging out with her pals. After her death, these so-called friends dumped her lifeless body on the side of the road. With friends like those, you really need some laws!

Reportedly, the friends were with Taylor, a former cheerleader, when she began suffering an asthma attack, from which she'd suffered her whole life, and they tried to "revive" her by putting her in a cold shower.

When that didn't work, they drove her body to an empty mobile home and dumped it on the lawn. Said Taylor's heartbroken mother, Tanya, who is a police officer:

She didn't deserve just to be dumped on the side of the road, just because they didn't know what else to do. As a mother, I'm so angry, so angry that they treated her the way that they did ... There was a thousand other scenarios they could have done.

Lest you think these are all young kids who maybe panicked -- two of the suspects were well into middle age. One, Marty Gaddis, is 38. The other, Denise Patterson, is 51. They're being charged with concealing a death, abandonment of a body, tampering with evidence, and drug charges.

Since there's drug charges in there, perhaps the older pals thought calling an ambulance for a dying friend might expose their drug usage. One reason that it's good to have laws that protect people from drug charges if they bring someone who has overdosed to the hospital -- though police say that Taylor died from a seizure or asthma attack, not drugs.

If it can be proved that these people stood by and Taylor die, they should be charged with that too. These were supposed friends. How do you dump your friend's body on the side of the road after doing nothing to help save her life?

Well, apparently some people do do it. And they deserve to be punished. Harshly.

Taylor's mom hopes that young people will take this as a lesson to pick their friends wisely, saying: "If Taylor was with people who truly loved her, she'd be alive today."

Do you think the "friends" deserve jail time?

Image via WSBTV.com

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Former 'Bachelor' Star Has a Baby on the Way!

woensdag 31 juli 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Mary Fischer 1 hour ago

Well, it looks like congratulations are in order for a former Bachelor we couldn't get enough of during his season!

Andrew Firestone's wife, Ivana, is pregnant with baby number three, so their two kids, Brooks and Anja, who are 4 and 2, respectively, will be gaining a sibling sometime this winter. He told Us Weekly, "We are really excited. Ivana and I feel so blessed to be pregnant and to add another child to the family."

And it sounds like Andrew's kiddos are pretty pumped about the new addition to their family as well. He added, "Brooks and Anja are already arguing as to whether we will be having a boy or a girl, and who gets to hold it first!"

Hmm. Something tells me they'll be singing a different tune once that baby arrives and becomes the center of attention, but still -- it's sweet that they're looking forward to having a brother or sister.

Sigh. Andrew Firestone. (Where the hell was he when I was single?) I've had a soft spot for that dude ever since his season of The Bachelor, and I have to admit -- I was bummed when things didn't work out between him and Jen Schefft.

But it's obvious that his TV romance just wasn't meant to be, based on how happy and in love he and Ivana are and what a beautiful family they've created together. Isn't it funny how things have a way of working out the way they're supposed to?

Congrats to Andrew and Ivana -- we can't wait to "meet" your new little bundle of joy!

Are you surprised that Andrew turned out to be such a family man?

Image via Jason Merritt/Getty

Click the "Like" button below if you're a fan of The Bachelor(ette) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Fischer

is the writer behind The Mommyologist, and the mom of a future famous comedian. Her current loves include cosmopolitans, reality TV, and shoes that don't pinch her feet.

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