Fresh Loaf

Aaron Gould Sheinin of the AJC has details on the 911 call that alerted Paulding County authorities to House Speaker Glenn Richardson’s Nov. 8 suicide attempt:

House Speaker Glenn Richardson called his parents in Douglas County last Sunday and told them he had taken sleeping pills and that it “was too late to do anything,” according to the 911 recording of the call.

Richardson’s mother, Merty, called 911 on Nov. 8 and aid her son was conscious and breathing but said he purposely took the pills. According to a police report issued late Monday, Richardson was found in his bathroom with a “silver revolver sitting on the counter in front of him.” Richardson was semi-conscious and did not respond to verbal commands.

There was also a suicide note on yellow paper and another note “related to the suicide,” although details were not included in the report released by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheinin say the police report listed Mary Ann Burdette of Acworth as a witness. Burdette told reporters she was a family friend but declined further comment. Check out Sheinin’s post for more details.

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From the AJC minutes ago:

Richardson, in a statement to the media, said he has been suffering from depression for the past two-and-a-half years since separating and subsequently divorcing his wife.

“While depression often seems to be resolved on occasion, when personal trials or tribulations arise, it flares back up,” Richardson said in the statement. “That is what occurred with me. My depression became so severe that I took substantial steps to do harm to myself and to take my own life. I am thankful that because of medical intervention that because of medical intervention I have instead been able to now receive help and support.”

And the reactions are already forthcoming. From the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:

“We are encouraged by Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson’s willingness to speak out about his battle with depression.  We hope his courage will bring much needed awareness to this public health crisis,” said Christina Owens, area director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Metro Atlanta.
“Unfortunately, suicide and mental disorders such as depression are surrounded by stigma and misconceptions which prevent many people from seeking the help they  desperately need.”

And from Richardson himself, via the AJC’s Galloway:

“As you know, in an effort to protect my family, I have and will continue to have a practice that I do not discuss my personal and private life. However, in this situation, I feel compelled to speak out in order to possibly help others. For the past two and a half years, ever since my separation and divorce, I have struggled with the disease of depression. Depression is a disease which affects millions of people everyday in this country. Like most people who suffer from depression, I regularly see a physician and take prescription medications.”

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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(Photo by Joeff Davis)

Jerry Turner is president of Advanced Bio-Treatment, a company that specializes in cleaning the mess left behind by murder and suicide. The company also cleans up urine and feces, as well as old meth labs.

“Suicide from firearms are difficult because the splatters are small and located all over the place.”

The most gruesome place he’s cleaned: “A suicide with a [large caliber rifle]. It looked like 15 bodies had been slaughtered, not just one head.”

On telling people his job: “I pass out my business card and all kinds of cool conversation happens. It’s like my bar trick.”

“I have empathy for people. I understand how it affects people to lose a loved one. But death just doesn’t bother me at all. It’s a part of life. Everybody dies.”

On what he looks for when hiring: “They need to be meticulous and not squeamish. Most of my workforce is women. I guess they’re used to dirty diapers. And they’re typically cleaner than men.”

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