Donald Wastler devoted his life to caring for his sick, aging mother. He cooked her meals, took her to doctor’s appointments and managed her affairs. He was a loyal citizen who volunteered on several community boards, including the Proebstel Neighborhood Association.
On Monday, Donald R. Wastler snapped. Clark County sheriff’s investigators believe he shot and killed his 86-year-old mother, Evelyn D. Wastler, a pet cat and then himself.
The shootings came less than an hour after he sent an e-mail to local media and court officials, venting about a guardianship case that restricted his duties as his mother’s personal caretaker.
Donald Wastler served as his mother’s full-time live-in caretaker. He didn’t have outside work and wasn’t married.
Evelyn Wastler suffered from dementia and was bedridden, according to a guardianship case filed in Clark County Superior Court.
Donald’s sister, Patricia J. Lewis, filed a petition on July 7 asking for the appointment of a guardian ad litem to oversee the care of their mother. In it, she raised concern about the care being provided by her brother. Among her concerns were sanitation problems and Donald Wastler’s “dangerous medical condition,” according to the petition.
Wastler was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed mental illness, according to Van Cleve, and became explosive when he didn’t take his medication.
The petition also claimed that Donald Wastler had prevented other family members from communicating with Evelyn Wastler. In addition, the petition stated that he was living rent-free and using some of her money to take care of himself.
In his response to the petition, Donald Wastler portrayed himself as a devoted son.
“I shop, cook, pay bills, keep up the outdoor property, manage her medication, drive and accompany her to all of her doctor and dentist appointments.”
In an Oct. 7 agreement, Donald Wastler was appointed guardian of his mother, with a limited co-guardian who was to check on the home and report to the court any issues about care or cleanliness in the house.
But in his Monday e-mail, Wastler wrote that the claims against him in the guardianship case were unfounded. During their investigation, detectives said they found several notes and journals in the home that were similar to the e-mail.
Full Article and Source:
Details of son’s dark side begin to emerge
See also:
Details emerge in apparent murder-suicide
Clark County mother, son died in murder-suicide
Dispute over mother's care divided family
On Monday, Donald R. Wastler snapped. Clark County sheriff’s investigators believe he shot and killed his 86-year-old mother, Evelyn D. Wastler, a pet cat and then himself.
The shootings came less than an hour after he sent an e-mail to local media and court officials, venting about a guardianship case that restricted his duties as his mother’s personal caretaker.
Donald Wastler served as his mother’s full-time live-in caretaker. He didn’t have outside work and wasn’t married.
Evelyn Wastler suffered from dementia and was bedridden, according to a guardianship case filed in Clark County Superior Court.
Donald’s sister, Patricia J. Lewis, filed a petition on July 7 asking for the appointment of a guardian ad litem to oversee the care of their mother. In it, she raised concern about the care being provided by her brother. Among her concerns were sanitation problems and Donald Wastler’s “dangerous medical condition,” according to the petition.
Wastler was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed mental illness, according to Van Cleve, and became explosive when he didn’t take his medication.
The petition also claimed that Donald Wastler had prevented other family members from communicating with Evelyn Wastler. In addition, the petition stated that he was living rent-free and using some of her money to take care of himself.
In his response to the petition, Donald Wastler portrayed himself as a devoted son.
“I shop, cook, pay bills, keep up the outdoor property, manage her medication, drive and accompany her to all of her doctor and dentist appointments.”
In an Oct. 7 agreement, Donald Wastler was appointed guardian of his mother, with a limited co-guardian who was to check on the home and report to the court any issues about care or cleanliness in the house.
But in his Monday e-mail, Wastler wrote that the claims against him in the guardianship case were unfounded. During their investigation, detectives said they found several notes and journals in the home that were similar to the e-mail.
Full Article and Source:
Details of son’s dark side begin to emerge
See also:
Details emerge in apparent murder-suicide
Clark County mother, son died in murder-suicide
Dispute over mother's care divided family
How sad, how heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteI think the key to the conflict is this statement:
"In addition, the petition stated that he was living rent-free and using some of her money to take care of himself."
I expect that sis thought her brother who was caring for "their" mom and the family cat, should be paying ............RENT!!!
Now, that would be the ultimate slap in the face to the person caring full time for mom to pay rent ....to whom, sis? To Mom? Oh, Maybe to you, sis.
This is very sad.
ReplyDeleteObviously the probate court failed to help this family.
The truth is that probate is not about helping anybody, except themselves to the attorney fees and court costs.
I just wish that the sister could have discussed this with brother and got him some medical attention rather than going to the broken system.
Families be warned.
It's easy to see why he snapped - the stress and worry of guardianship abuse brings us all to the near brink of destruction.
ReplyDeleteMany times, we think we can't go on and something, miraculously, gives us the strength to go another day.
So very tragic. I wonder if the attorneys involved in this case even blinked an eye...
Read the profile of a sociopath and read Snakes In Suits.
ReplyDelete