A 91-year-old former Marine passed away tragically after jumping from a luxury high-rise apartment in New York City. People are shocked and trying to understand what led to this terrible incident. According to the victim's daughter, it seems that the ex-Marine chose to end his own life, likely unable to bear the weight of his wife's late-stage heart failure and the grief it caused him.
From New York Post:
One of his daughters, Marci Guillerme, said her dad may have chosen to end his life after coming to terms with the medical condition of her mom, Rochelle, 88, who is suffering from late-stage heart failure.
“I think it came to a point where he figured out he couldn’t save my mom and he had a problem with his eyes and he was losing his eyesight,” Guillerme told The Post.
“I never expected this from him. I don’t think anyone expected him… maybe take a handful of pills with my mom… she never thought he’d go first,” the heartbroken woman said.
“He just realized his love couldn’t save her anymore,” she added. “He’s an extremely well-loved member of our family.”
The couple — described as “inseparable” — had celebrated their 71st anniversary in June.
Tekel had apparently attempted “something similar” a couple weeks ago, cops said.
Though shocked by his apparent suicide, Guillerme said the family had noticed signs of his depression.
Tekel served in the Marines as a staff sergeant at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, his daughter said.
“My father was the proudest marine you’d ever meet. Every time he’d call someone he’d say ‘I’m a Marine don’t I get anything?'” Guillerme recalled.
His final wish is to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Tekel leaves behind three daughters, four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
He was so proud of all of his children and grandchild and we don’t understand it,” Guillerme said.
“We are in a state of disbelief.”
Your heart just breaks for this poor family.
You can't even begin to imagine the pain they're going through, and we pray that they can heal and find a way to honor their father's life.
