By Wanja Waweru
The lives of Njoki Muchemi and her two children could probably have been saved if someone had taken notice of the warning signs regarding her husband’s mental health.
In Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, Ms. Mucheni and her two daughters were murdered by her husband in what authorities believe to be a murder-suicide.
According to several media accounts, Gary Stanton, 60, fatally shot his 49-year-old wife Mary Njoki Muchemi Stanton, their daughters Andrianna Stanton, 17, and Brianna Stanton, 11, in their home in the Valley Station neighborhood.
According to his most recent social media posts, Mr. Stanton appears to have been struggling with mental health issues. One of his final messages on Facebook illustrated how bad things had gotten for him.
The deceased husband and father stated on November 22 that he would no longer adhere to his doctor’s recommendations because they were not helping him.
“Therapists tell me I can work through, but the medication is not working. I hate the way I am feeling inside. Mental health is grabbing a strong hold on me. I hate what I am feeling” he said on November 22.
However, the feelings of the illness must have dissipated because just six days before the gruesome murder of his family and alleged suicide, Mr Stanton appeared happy and even celebrated his wife’s birthday.
“Happy birthday to my wife, the love of my life,” he posted.
However, come Saturday morning, the worst happened, and the entire Stanton family was no more in the quiet neighbourhood of Valley Station in Louisville where locals are busy preparing for the coming Christmas holidays.
