Kevin Conners allegedly held the gun for his sick wife while she pulled the trigger
Irish American Kevin Conners, 65, is facing manslaughter charges in Connecticut after he allegedly helped his terminally ill wife Lori commit suicide in September.
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The Hartford Courant reports that Conners turned himself into Westbrook, Connecticut police on June 20. He faces charges of second-degree manslaughter after police spent nine months investigating the death of his wife Lori who died from a gunshot wound to the head.
The medical examiner classified her death as a homicide, direct or assisted by another.
About a year before her death, 61-year-old Lori had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer which spread to her liver, colon, and abdomen. Coupled with a nearly 20-year battle with Lyme disease, Lori was in constant pain and frequently expressed that she wanted to end her life.
The couple, married for more than 40 years, researched different ‘right-to-die’ options, and Lori reportedly attempted suicide once before on her own.
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On September 6, Kevin held a gun to his wife’s head, who feared she may not be able to hold it steady and would botch the operation. She pulled the trigger and died in their Westbrook, Connecticut home.
Kevin called the police and initially said he was awoken by the sound of a gunshot, but, according to the New York Times, he quickly admitted he “wasn’t being totally truthful.”
He said that “he loved his wife very much and couldn’t watch her suffer.”
Police found upwards of 15 suicide notes in the Conners home, many of which detailed Lori’s love for her husband, their four children, and six grandchildren. They also highlighted Lori’s desire to die.
On June 20, Kevin Conners presented himself at Westbrook Police Department and posted bail in the amount of $50,000.
The following day, he appeared in court with his lawyer Raymond Rigat. On Twitter, journalist Cassandra Day shared a video of Rigat's comments following the court appearance:
Attorney Rigat speaks on behalf of #Westbrook man Kevin Conners - accused of 2nd degree manslaughter for his alleged role in suicide of terminally ill wife by gunshot wound to head #Middletown court 1/2 pic.twitter.com/uTaKbSa4jt
— Cassandra Day (@cassandrasdis) June 21, 2019
Conners is due back in court on July 2.
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