Man Kills Himself After Murdering Cancer Patient Wife

A man reportedly took his own life after murdering his wife who had been suffering from cancer in Vadakara, Kerala, India on Monday, June 8.

The husband, identified as Gopalan, 68, reportedly ran a small hotel in Vadakara before the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, the lockdowns severely affected his business and Gopalan had to shutter the hotel at the height of the pandemic. Gopalan reportedly fell in deep distress due to the financial crunch caused by the shutdown of his hotel and the worsening health condition of his wife Leela, 63, who was suffering from cancer, Mathrubhumi reported.

Even though he had planned to reopen the hotel as lockdowns eased recently, his wife’s condition began to deteriorate quickly. Following this, Gopalan reportedly fell into a deep depression. Unable to bear the distress brought on by his wife’s health and his financial difficulties, Gopalan was allegedly spurred to take the extreme step and commit the murder-suicide.

The incident came to light after the couple was found dead in their residence on Monday morning. Leela’s remains were spotted in their residence's office room, while Gopalan’s body was found hanging from the verandah.

The couple reportedly had no children and were living with Gopalan’s brother.

In a similar but unrelated incident, a woman who had been taking care of her paralyzed husband for the past 15 years allegedly slit the ailing man's throat and killed him in Kerala, India as she was finally fed up with looking after him, Latin Times reported.

After officers responded to their home on Tuesday morning, Oct. 19, 2021, they found the victim, identified as Gopi, 75, dead with his throat slashed and his wife Sumathy, 70, lying in an unconscious state.

Locals shortly helped rush the couple to a nearby hospital for immediate treatment. Sumathy, who regained her consciousness at the health facility, reportedly admitted to the doctor that she had killed her own husband as she had grown tired and frustrated of looking after her him, being his sole caretaker for the past 15 years.

The doctor subsequently informed the police about the incident. When the officers questioned Sumathy regarding Gopi's death, she immediately confessed to her husband's murder.

"She has been now taken before a magistrate and her statement is being recorded," a local police officer who has taken over the investigation said.