An 83-year-old man allegedly smothered his ailing wife to death before dying by suicide at their son's residence in Bengaluru's Sampigehalli area, police said on Wednesday. The couple had recently moved to the city to live with their son.
Incident Details
The incident came to light on Tuesday evening when the son returned home from work and found his parents dead. Police identified the deceased as R. Krishnamurthy, 83, and his wife Shantha, 78, who had been bedridden for several years due to age-related ailments.
According to police, Krishnamurthy smothered Shantha with a pillow before hanging himself from a ceiling fan in the same room. A note was recovered from the scene, in which Krishnamurthy stated that he could no longer bear to see his wife suffer and that he was ending their lives to relieve her pain.
Police Investigation
Senior police officials from the nearby station visited the spot and sent the bodies for postmortem. Preliminary investigations suggest no foul play beyond the incident. The note and circumstances indicate that Krishnamurthy acted out of a sense of despair over his wife's deteriorating health.
Police have registered a case of murder and abetment to suicide. The son, who works in the private sector, told police that his father had been under stress caring for his mother, who required constant attention and was in pain despite medication.
Neighbors Shocked
Neighbors described the couple as quiet and devoted to each other. One neighbor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “They kept to themselves but were always seen together. It is heartbreaking that it came to this.”
Mental health experts point out that caring for a chronically ill spouse can lead to caregiver burnout and depression. They urge families to seek professional help when they notice signs of extreme stress or hopelessness in elderly caregivers.
The incident has once again highlighted the challenges faced by elderly couples dealing with long-term illness without adequate support systems.
