The Shock, Grief, Panic and Guilt from the Other Side of a Tragedy

Severe mental illnesses can agonize in so many ways. The most direct manner is the impact on those who have them, but the scope can range far wider – to the families, others, and numerous critical components of our society.

Among the most heart-wrenching of anguish is that of families whose loved ones fall victim to the acute psychiatric disorder of another. We have painfully watched as families, such as those of Kendra Webdale, Laura Wilcox, and Gregory Katsnelson, bravely withstand the devastation of needless and unexpected loss. We have also been awed as members of these families have nobly turned their grief, not into revenge, but to bringing treatment to people incapacitated by illnesses like the one that ripped away their child, sibling or parent.

There is a flip side of these tragedies that rarely gets attention – the grievous turmoil of the families of the person who caused the harm, and did so only because of the symptoms of an illness that were neither asked for nor susceptible to self-control.

Imagine the turbulent mixture of shock, grief, panic and guilt experienced by the parents of Anthony Capozzi when their son, who has schizophrenia, was charged with two rapes in 1985 and later convicted of them. Was it the illness? Could his parents have prevented his actions? Something else? According to Albert Copozzi, Anthony’s father, "It is with you every moment …We don't go to bed at night without thinking about our son."

To put a twist on the Capozzis' distress that is hopeful yet also utterly confounding, imagine that – after 23 years of weekly eight-hour roundtrips to visit him in prison – Anthony Capozzi might not have done anything after all.

Remembering Kendra Webdale, her family and so many others

Eight years ago today, Kendra Webdale a vibrant, beautiful young woman was pushed to her death from a subway platform in New York City by a man with schizophrenia who had a documented history of assaults and failing to follow prescribed medication regimens.

At the time, advocates like DJ Jaffe had been working for at least 10 years in New York toward a statewide assisted outpatient treatment law. Kendra family’s commitment to prevent the tragedy of untreated mental illness coupled with Governor (then-Attorney General) Elliot Spitzer’s political will finally succeeded in achieving the reality of Kendra’s Law for assisted outpatient treatment in New York. All those who are being helped by Kendra's Law in New York today are indebted to the Webdales, particularly Kendra’s mother Pat, who continues to advocate and Chairs the AOT Quality Improvement Panel sponsored by New York’s OMH.
In addition to mourning Kendra, today is a day to remember some other random victims of the violence that is sometimes a result of untreated mental illness ... and the families who have, like the Webdales, opened their hearts to try to help others.

Edgar Rivera, who lost his legs after being pushed from a NY subway platform in April 1999, epitomized grace and understanding when he lamented that although he lost his legs, at least he had his mind, unlike his assailant. Linda Gregory partnered with Alice Petrie, the sister of the man who shot her husband in the line of duty as a sheriff’s deputy. Their successful advocacy lead to Florida’s adoption of AOT and they continue to advocate for more humane treatment. Amanda and Nick Wilcox’s daughter was killed at a mental health center in California by a man with untreated mental illness. They are fighting to get their county to adopt Laura’s law.

There are so many others, too many to mention here, but we particularly want to remember 11-year-old Gregory Katsnelson who was killed, while riding his bike, by a young man whose family was told he was not “dangerous” enough to be helped. Before he killed Gregory that day, he also killed his own mother. Gregory would be 15 years old now - the Katnselsons have spent the last 4 years trying to persuade New Jersey legislators to become the 43rd state to adopt an AOT law. The Senate, under the leadership of Governor Codey, passed the bill last year.

Our hope for the New Year is that the Katsnelsons will succeed as other families have in making a terrible tragedy into a legacy of hope for others ... and that better laws and better usage of and understanding of the laws that exist will mean fewer sad anniversaries like today.

Posted by TAC executive director Mary Zdanowicz.