The story of Donald and Sandra Lee Cragin sounds a bit like
the story tragic romance story of Romeo and Juliet. The
couple, who have been married for thirty years took their lives
only three weeks to their 31st wedding anniversary which
would have been on Valentine's day.
Donald Lee Cragin, 65, and Sandra Lee Cragin, 55, were found
dead, lying side by side on their bed at home in Shaws Mill
Road, Standish, Maine, US, after they both took their own
lives a few minutes apart.
Sandra Cragin, a mother-of-two and a grandmother, took her
life first having been diagnosed a decade ago with
Huntington's disease, a terminal genetic disorder, the same
disease that killed her father.
Sandra took her own life first by overdosing on pills after
leaving a note for her husband. Donald who could not live
without her took his own life soon after.
Their body was
discovered at about 12.30pm on January 24 by Michael
Sullivan, Sandra’s brother when he stopped by her house to
check up on her and Donald, as he often did. He found the
door unlocked and a note taped to it asking him to come in.
He went in to find his sister lying in bed under the covers and
her husband beside her.
The police were called in and they do not suspect foul play.
Gail Rich, Sandra's mother said her daughter took her life
because she did not want her illness to take a toll on her
loved ones. Donald, in turn, took his because he could not
bear to live without her.
The couple have two grown children, Savannah and Derek
and two grandchildren, one from each of their children. Their
daughter Savanah took to her parent's Facebook page to drop
a tribute which reads in part; "No child should have to bury
both of their parents in a day."
