# Parent commits suicide after false accusation of sex with child

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parent-commits-suicide-after-false-accusation-of-sex-with-child/784931>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 21, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parent-commits-suicide-after-false-accusation-of-sex-with-child/784931 "2017-04-21T16:42:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parent-commits-suicide-after-false-accusation-of-sex-with-child/784931/1 "2017-04-21T16:42:06Z")

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A sad story [here](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/19/mother-killed-wrongly-accused-having-sex-underage-boy/).

It’s the usual story: the partner separates and takes the children and contact becomes difficult or lost, the accused becomes depressed, and despite vindication commits suicide.

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**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parent-commits-suicide-after-false-accusation-of-sex-with-child/784931/2 "2017-04-21T16:49:33Z")

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There’s a “usual story?” Sounds unusual to me

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**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parent-commits-suicide-after-false-accusation-of-sex-with-child/784931/3 "2017-04-21T17:20:48Z")

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If there’s a “usual story” here it’s that this woman had a severe mental health problem and the system in place was inadequate.

Granted, free will and all, if someone is really determined to kill themselves they’re most likely going to succeed eventually, and as the doctors said themselves, there’s only so much they can do, but even if this woman received all the best help possible, there are so many others who the system has failed or, as we do in the US, flat out ignored.

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**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parent-commits-suicide-after-false-accusation-of-sex-with-child/784931/4 "2017-04-21T18:55:36Z")

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As we discussed in a recent thread, pedophilia and incest are things that leave you tarred even if the accusation or claim is shown to be a free-floating pile of shit. When there’s no absolute defense and some suspicion remains, it can be career- and life-(as you knew it)-ending.

Add in mental illness or depression, and.