By now many of you likely have read my story in Friday’s print edition about the gay Dallas man who was apparently killed and dismembered inside his apartment recently. I wanted to post this comment from Karen, which she made in response to my post below seeking info about the victim, Richard Hernandez. I agree with Karen that the saddest part of all this is that it easily could have been prevented if the suspect, Seth Winder, had gotten the help he needed. I know this is a complicated issue, but the bottom line is that the current system IS NOT WORKING in this country when it comes to mental health. Here’s Karen’s post:
“A lot of his [Hernandez’s] friends have posted on the DMN news site, and MYKDFW, one guy Scotty the comic, may have known other friends of the victim. I’m on the other side of it and am a friend of the family of the accused. I can honestly tell you I was fearful of Seth and I know from observing his increasingly bizarre behavior that he is in fact mentally ill. … I could never imagine knowing someone who could commit a crime such as this. My deepest sympathies go to his friends and family. Seth’s family is devastated and we all tried time and again to get something done about him and his mental illness. The police, the county sheriff, his probation officer, MHMR, etc. No one would listen to any of us or do anything. The laws must be changed to make sure that mentally ill adults can be committed! I’ve written to our senators already. I will do whatever it takes to get some new legislation passed to at least help prevent a future tragedy!”
Thank you John, I hope we can talk soon. This issue is so important in the gay or straight community! We can all be in unknowing danger and this has got to be stopped. Public safety is something we should all have a right to! When a family or friends know someone is mentally ill, they should be able to do something. In this case, there was absolutely no question of it. I think Richard Herandez’ life ended tragically because we as friends and family were not allowed to involuntarily have Seth committed. Also, the judge up in Denton County let him go over and over again after time and again we all requested mental health evaluations. I cannot understand why the police, the judge, MHMR, no one listened or seemed to. Now is the time to make a change! Lets all write to our legislators today and ask that this be changed. We must not let this occur again. I urge everyone to take action in memory of Richard Hernandez. Maybe they can make a law called “Richard’s law” in his memory. Let the Voice raise its voice on this issue please. If many people get involved, we can make a change.
Just let us know when and where and I’m there.
I hope that Richard’s family is doing as well as can be expected in such a tragic time and know that he has made a change in this world.
Kristina,
I am willing to do whatever it takes to help. I talked to my state senator’s office today and requested this type of legislation. My representative is Senator Chris Harris in my district. If everyone would contact their personal.representatives and call them, then it would start the ball rolling. This is very important. If people would contact me, perhaps we can arrange to get a petition started requesting the legislation be changed in our state. Thanks to anyone who wants to help, I really want to help get this process started.
This petition to change our laws regarding mentally ill adults is working now. You can sign it anonymously if you so choose! The more signatures, the better. I am doing this in memory of Mr. Richard Hernandez and hopefully to prevent a future tragic occurrence. Please sign it anonymously or otherwise at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Law4U. Please feel free to pass it on to all your friends, family and coworkers.
If that link does not work, you can type it in at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Law4U. It appears to work as more signatures have gone on it, but when I clicked on the link in the previous post, it says its missing or invalid, but the petition is online. A GREAT BIG THANKS TO ALL WHO SIGN IT!
If I just read what you wrote correctly when you were introducing the comment from Karen, “I agree with Karen that the saddest part of all this is that it easily could have been prevented if the suspect, Seth Winder, had gotten the help he needed. ” Aren’t you jumping the gun just a little bit by saying that? I believe that you are assuming that that Seth Killed Richard, which I find odd being that he has not gone to trial yet and been judged by a jury of his peers. EVERYONE is innocent until proven guilty here in the United States. Yes, he has been charged and the police are still gathering evidence. Unless you were there when the supposed crime took place and know wxactly what transpired, I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself, and let the police do their job and convict him in a court of law, not on a website in a blog. Having said what I have, I’m not saying that I believe that Seth is innocent. All of the facts are not in yet, and probably will not be so for quite sometime. Wht not wait until everything is known before we presume guilt? I am sorry that someone has been killed, make no mistake of that. Let’s not jump ahead and convict someone before everything is known.
Brian,
I know the facts and i also knew Richard. And if Seth didn’t kill Richard, why the shopping spree with Richards credit card?? Think Richard loaned it to him……Not! But he will pay the price one day, and maybe get the help he really needs. So that he doesn’t hurt anyone else in his Life time. So don’t jump ahead too soon.