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    I Want to Kill My Wife
    I Want to Kill My Wife
    I Want to Kill My Wife
    Ebook146 pages1 hour

    I Want to Kill My Wife

    By Jill Leach-Klajic

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    About this ebook

    "I Want to Kill My Wife," is a story about a close net family's personal look at the mental health and justice system, as they try and maneuver their way through violent crimes perpetrated by a loved one.

    My story not only chronicles the personal lives of Daniel and his family, but also illustrates the need for better understanding of mental illness and better management of our mental health services.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJill Leach-Klajic
    Release dateApr 18, 2019
    ISBN9781386977223
    I Want to Kill My Wife
    Author

    Jill Leach-Klajic

    Jill Leach-Klajic was born Mary Jillene Leach in Searcy Arkansas. As a young child Jill moved to Turlock, California with her family. Her professional career included forming two non-profit pre-schools, marketing director of an assistant living community, owning several businesses, and the former Mayor of the City of Santa Clarita. She retired from a twenty-year career in Marketing and Community Relations. Jill is married to Daniel Ryan and lives in the small mountain community of Columbia California. She is the mother of five grown children and grandmother of twelve, who presently range in age from one to twenty-one. She has a very large extended family that includes two living sisters and many nieces and nephews. Jill and her husband love traveling and spending time with all the children in their family. She presently is the facilitator of the Sonora Writers Group and a co-host of a local public radio program, "The Nuggets of the Motherlode". As co-host, she interviews local published authors. Jill has been writing since she was in high school and has published short stories, poems and articles. With Dignity, is her first fiction novel. She has three other books in the works. "My earliest memories are at my father’s feet listening to his bigger than life tales. He would take me along with him through funny, traumatic, and sometimes dangerous adventures. I grew up feeling as if I knew his characters, personally, and somehow lived the stories myself. My dream is to write like he told his stories".

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      Book preview

      I Want to Kill My Wife - Jill Leach-Klajic

      Light

      From the point of light within the mind the light streams out into the minds of men let the light descend on the darkest

      From the Centre which we call the race of men let the plan of love and light seal the door where evil dwells

      Let the forces of light bring illumination to all mankind Let the spirit of peace and forgiveness bring goodwill

      Let light and love restore to Earth and with the efforts of the Great one Let Christ return to Earth and give us all the light

      By Jesse D. Leach-Skinner

      I Want to Kill My Wife

      Chapter 1

      Late Fall 1978

      Daniel Stanton had been driving all night, the glare from the first morning light on the windshield was unnoticed. His mind focused on his destination. With one hand on the steering wheel, the other absent-mindedly stroked the handgun on the seat beside him. He was unaware of the strong dairy smell seeping through the cold pale fog. Daniel knew the route well; he had ferried Suzanne back and forth many times from their house in Merced for visits to her parent’s old farm near Atwater. A quick glance at himself in the rearview mirror caused him to wonder why his face was red and swollen. Was it from the tears or from the long sleepless drive from Los Angeles? He pulled the car to a stop on the narrow road near the mailbox. Suzanne’s car was parked in the driveway. There was no time to think. Daniel took the gun and tucked it into his front coat pocket.

      Chapter 2

      Rosie crawled on the floor, sweeping her hand under her bed. Mommy, I can’t find my rain hat!

      It’s here sweetie, by the door with your coat. Hurry up. You’re going to miss your ride.

      A kiss, a quick hug, and five-year-old Rosie was out the door and off to school.

      Since Daniel had left last night, the only thing on Janet’s mind was what might happen to Daniel. Why did he feel he had to go up North so suddenly?

      Janet returned to her usual early morning chores. Today she was nervously dropping silverware and finding herself standing in the upstairs hall with an armload of downstairs laundry. 

      I won’t call Mom yet; it’s too early, and if he hasn’t arrived, she will only worry, she thought.

      Since her brother Daniel had moved in with her and her family, the last thing Janet did before going to bed was to remind her son, Allen, to push his lock on his bedroom door. Then she would quietly place the large water bottle filled with pennies against Rosie’s closed bedroom door. She was grateful she and her husband, Carl, had an adjoining door between their bathroom and Rosie’s bedroom. She was sure if the jar moved, she would wake up. 

      There had never been a definite diagnosis of her younger brother’s mental condition. Several counselors over the years had told Janet, as well as Daniel’s mother Ester, that they believed he was going through adolescent growing pains and needed more structure. Janet was sure he was suffering from some kind of schizophrenia.

      As she was setting the timer for the last load of laundry, the telephone rang. Looking up at the kitchen clock.

      12:37, she picked up the telephone.

      Hello.

      Is this Ms. Baker?

      Yes.

      Do you know a Daniel Stanton?

      Yes. Janet’s heart began to pound. She wanted to hang up, scream, anything but listen to the voice on the other end of the call. Breathe, breathe, she told herself.

      Ms. Baker, this is Lieutenant Jenkins of the Merced County Sheriff’s Department. We have Daniel Stanton here in our custody. He has been arrested for the attempted murder of his estranged wife, Suzanne Stanton. He has admitted to shooting his wife. He has waived his rights to an attorney but has asked that you be called. Can you give us any information in regard to his mental condition? 

      Oh no, no! Is Suzie alright? Oh, I am so sorry.  I can’t think, I can’t think, I don’t know what to say. I will come up there; I need to call my husband. Please tell Daniel I will be up there, tell him not to say anything. I will be there tonight.

      Janet hung up the phone and fell to the floor.

      Chapter 3

      It was nothing less than a miracle that Suzanne lived through the horrific shooting. Daniel had walked into her parents’ home, outside of Merced, in the early morning hours. He quietly entering Suzanne’s bedroom where she lay breastfeeding their baby girl. He shot at her head five times. The five bullets from the .22 pistol all missed any vital brain cells, leaving damage to her right jaw, right eye, and one bullet lodged permanently in the back of her neck. Two of the bullets missed her. Their five-month-old baby was not hurt.

      The next few months that followed would never be forgotten. Janet traveled almost weekly between her home in Northridge and her mother and father’s home in Merced. The long drive offered plenty of time for questions and afterthoughts, but no answers or comfort. She struggled to be an advocate for Daniel, while trying to reconcile the horror of what he had done. Janet believed Suzanne deserved justice for Daniel’s crime. While she also, struggled with a constant battle over her feelings of love and forgiveness, for her young brother. Some days all Janet could do was comfort her Mother. Trying to hold her together was heartbreaking for them both. 

      Momma, you stop blaming yourself, please. I know you tried everything in your power to help him. There was just no way could we have ever imagined he would do something like this.

      What in the world is going to happen to him now, sweetheart? Momma is so sick. What if Suzie were to die, or, you know he could have shot baby Dawn? I just can’t sleep. I am so ashamed. Ester Stanton’s shoulders sagged as she wept quietly.

      Janet put her arms around her mother. We aren’t going to keep thinking about all these ifs. Look, Momma, I’m telling you, everything is going to be all right. He is going to get the help he needs. He will finally get the correct diagnosis and the right medication. We have to be thankful no one was killed, and pray that God will forgive Daniel and help him get well.

      The days that followed after their first visit with Daniel at the Merced County Jail, were almost unbearable for them both. Janet arranged for her mother’s church to come and pray with them. The Merced County Church of Christ preacher and elders took turns in leading prayers for Daniel, Ester, and the rest of the family.

      By the end of the second week, Ester began to accept the inevitable. Daniel had tried to kill Suzanne and now could possibly spend the rest of his life in prison.  She found her peace and comfort in prayer and reading her Bible. Janet could see that her mother and father were beginning to look so much older. Her father, Bruce Stanton, seldom spoke, either he seemed to stay at work longer than ever before, spent most evenings at his favorite bar, or sat for hours out back under the gazebo drinking his whiskey. For Janet, the trips continued. The weeks of back and forth drives from Northridge to Merced were taking a toll on her as well.  She had always been able to fall asleep easily. Every other night she was taking over the counter sleeping aids. Her patience with everyone was worn thin. If Allen or Rosie were to be late or forget a book or jacket at school, she was quick to scold them. She was snapping at Carl for the slightest remark. He had stopped talking to her about Daniel in fear of starting another long argument. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep up the long drives and the days away from the children without a total emotional and physical collapse.

      Chapter 4

      Winter 1978

      After weeks of delays and psychiatric evaluations Attorney Stanley Rosenthal, hired by Janet and Carl to defend Daniel, was able to strike a deal with the Merced County District attorney. With help from Rosenthal, the district attorney convinced Carl, Janet, and Daniel’s parents that the best way to get Daniel help was to send him to a facility for the criminally insane.

      Janet and Carl tried several times to talk to Daniel during their visits about his choices. It was hard to get him to even acknowledge that they were there. He did pick up the telephone and hold it to his ear, but never smiled or spoke.  Never mind getting him to give his opinion on whether or not he wanted a full trial or take a plea offer.

      Mrs. Stanton, I honestly believe this is your son’s best deal. Attorney Stanley Rosenthal aimed his comment toward Ester as the three once again settled into Rosenthal’s small office. 

      Janet reached over and took her mother’s hand. So, what would be your best guess as to how long it would be before he would be released? Janet asked the tall thin clean-shaven attorney.

      You know this is an open-ended process. At least three psychiatrists have to evaluate a patient and make their recommendation to the parole board. So, that will depend on Daniel and how well he follows the rules and his doctors' instructions. He hasn’t had an opportunity yet to see a doctor. All this time has been wasted. The sooner he gets settled in a mental hospital the better off he will be, Rosenthal shuffled through a stack of papers on his desk, finally pulling one out. Here this is his latest evaluation. It says he is suffering from Paranoia schizophrenia and depression. He really should be on medication.

      Mom, what do you think? Carl asked, Ester.

      "I don’t know, you and

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