U.S.A
American man Karthik Rajaram, aged 45 shot the five members of his family dead, and then committed suicide in the gated community of Porter Ranch in the San Fernando Valley, USA, between Saturday night and Monday morning.
According to a report from the big news network, the bodies of his victims; 39 year old wife Subasri, 70 year old mother-in-law Indra Ramaseshan and three sons Krishna, 19, a sophomore at UCLA majoring in business economics, Ganesha, 12; and Arjuna, 7 were found inside the home’s bedrooms.
Rajaram was found dead with the gun in his hand, according to the report from the Los Angeles Times the police stated; ‘We believe this to be a murder-suicide’.
Further investigations into Rajarams life, brought light to the fact that he had lost over $1 million on the stock market in the recent economic downfall, as well as losing his high profile job.
Rajarams crimes seems to have been premeditated, according to the article reported by the LA Times, Rajaram bought a gun on the 16th of September and only a few days prior to the murders had told his neighbour to keep her windows shut in case of burglars.
However with hindsight the neighbour believes Rajaram was trying to have her close the windows so as to not hear the gunshots.
Rajaram left a letter addressed to the police where he blamed his actions on economic hardships and his huge loss in the stock market. He also left a letter addressed to friends, which was said to have contained his last will and testimony.
According to reports the chief investigating officer, issued a statement; ‘This is the perfect American family behind me that has absolutely been destroyed, apparently because of a man who just stuck in a rabbit hole, if you will, of absolute despair, somehow working his way into believing this to be an acceptable exit’.
U.K
This isn’t the first case of a suicide in direct link with the current economic turmoil; on the 25th of September a wealthy financier threw himself in front of a train in Buckinghamshire,UK.
The 47 year – old, Kirk Stephenson, a family man who owned a £3.6 million house in Chelsea, was chief operating officer at private equity firm Olivant.
Olivant, set up in 2006, was one of the potential bidders for Northern Rock earlier in the year.
Reported in the London Paper, The British Transport Police (BTP) said, Stephenson threw himself in front of the 0535 Plymouth to Paddington service.
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Rose Hawkins – rosehawkins21@hotmail.com
