Coming Sunday: A Waukee Mother Shares Her Family's Tragedy
Sherri Sinclair of Waukee shares the story of how her family was destroyed by mental illness. Her 23-year-old daughter, Kelli Sly, killed her 2-year-old son and then herself in March.
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Sherri Sinclair's life has a hole in it, a wound caused by the deaths of her daughter and grandson.
A loss caused by mental illness, which Sinclair says led her daughter, Kelli Sly, a 23-year-old single mom with a history of behavioral issues and personal turmoil, to take the life of her 2-year-old son, Gavin, last March. Sly then killed herself by driving her car into a concrete bridge support.
For Sly's mother, Sinclair of Waukee, what happened on March 24 and 25 closed the window on years of anger, frustration and illness and opened a door to unimaginable sadness.
Eight months after their deaths, Sinclair is telling Kelli and Gavin's story with the hope that people will understand the gravity of mental illness and the pain it can inflict on a family.
Look for her story on Patch on Sunday, Dec. 2, and Monday, Dec. 3.
Jim Zupan
12:46 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Gavin should still be alive. I blame this woman, Gavin's father, and the Indianola police for his death as much as I do Kelli...
He had no chance to fight for himself, now this woman is looking for her 15 minutes of fame...Where was she when Gavin needed her?
Jody Gifford
1:51 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Jim, I think it's unfair to pass judgement here unless you lived this situation. As you'll see in Sunday's story, Sherri Sinclair did everything she could to help Kelli and Gavin but there is only so much you can do for someone when they refuse to help themselves.
Sherri did not do an interview for "15 minutes of fame," as you suggest. Her daughter was ill and by telling Kelli's story, she's raising awareness of how difficult it is to identify and treat mental illness. While a person might appear healthy and well-adjusted on the outside, what's going on inside could be an entirely different story.
maxine weimer
2:33 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
I agree Jim, where was the grandmother? She obviously knew her daughter had mental illness. I believe she could have prevented the baby's death by raising him herself and gotten help for her daughter.
maxine weimer
2:38 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Jody you said the grandmother did all she could to help her daughter but unless she went to court and got gaurdianship of this little boy, I don't think she really did all she could have. Sometimes you have to do things that you don't like to do, but in the end it may have saved him.
Megan VerHelst
3:05 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Again, everyone, thanks for the comments, but it's like Jody said – let's wait and read the full story on Sunday before we decide to pass judgment on a situation most of us know little about at this point.
J E Brown
9:11 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
Jim and Maxine - I pray you will never have to deal with a mentally ill family member. The laws in Iowa prevent others from doing the kinds of things you say should have been done. Please hold your judgements until you read the whole story.
maxine weimer
7:48 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
J E Brown....I was not aware of the laws in Iowa about this issue. I apologize for jumping the gun on this one. I can't wait to read the whole story, I am sure I will have a different outlook afterwards.
Todd Richissin
12:50 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
Maxine and others: One way you can help is to share the Sunday and Monday stories on Facebook. The stories will include warning signs to be aware of and resources for getting help. I understand why your first reaction would be to recoil; the events were horrific. But I think you'll find after reading the story that the grandmother was one of many people who have had to face a family member with mental problems and was doing the best she could. And I think you'll find her intentions for speaking out are noble: She wants to do what she can to help prevent future tragedies.
maxine weimer
7:55 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
Todd, I appreciate that and after having the time to think about it I do apologize. I am a grandmother x8 and my first reaction is what it iwas because I know if it were my family I would move Heaven and earth to do whatever I had to, to protect the kids and my daughter. But I also know how hard it is to deal with. My sister has adopted 12 children and they are all handicapted in one way or another. Mostly with mental issues, so I know how hard it is to live with.
Melissa
3:00 pm on Sunday, December 2, 2012
Mental illness is a problem that gets over looked alot of times in public and even in homes.We should follow our hearts and first mind.Its came to the horrible point where if you suffer from mental issues your labled crazy and looked down apon. How can a person struggling and in need of help go get the help they need with out support.We need to come togther and lead by example of concern and kindness to everyone and slow down a little sometimes and take advatage of any oppurtunitie to be kind or lend an ear when we can. Usually people want help so badtheyre practically screamming it but everyone just dont have the time but truelly we have all the time in the world.