Man Suspected of Attempted ‘Mercy Killing’ Freed From Jail

Kenneth Lee Shadell, the retired La Mesa geography professor who is suspected of helping his ailing wife take an overdose of drugs, was released from County Jail on his own recognizance Thursday, because the district attorney had not decided whether to prosecute him.

Shadell, 67, was jailed Monday night after authorities said he called the 911 emergency number and summoned police, paramedics and the coroner to the couple’s Skyline Lane home, saying, “I just helped my wife die.”

But Elizabeth Shadell, who was found in bed with two bottles of prescription medication on the floor nearby, was saved by police and paramedics. She remains comatose in the intensive care unit at Grossmont Hospital, and the couple’s son, Jim, told The Times she is close to death.

Dist. Atty. Edwin Miller now must decide whether Shadell should be charged with attempted murder in what would mark the first prosecution of a “mercy-killing” case in the county’s history.

Elizabeth Shadell had been paralyzed on her right side and was unable to speak after suffering a severe stroke eight months ago. Jim Shadell said on Wednesday that his father had been extremely depressed over his wife’s health, which had been steadily failing for more than eight years.

The Shadells, who have lived in La Mesa since Kenneth retired from the Air Force and began teaching at Grossmont College in 1974, have been married 43 years and have three children. Elizabeth had suffered from a debilitating asthmatic condition and was frequently hospitalized in recent years. Her husband had cared for her at home since retiring from his teaching job in 1982.

Bob Boles, who is heading the district attorney’s investigation, said Thursday that it might take a week to decide whether Shadell should be charged. “It’s going to take us longer to investigate this case,” Boles said. “Because it had been 72 hours and we had not yet made a decision on charges, Mr. Shadell was released without posting bail, on the promise that he would return for an arraignment.

“It’s an awfully sad situation,” Boles said. “I don’t know whether anyone besides Shadell and his wife will ever know what happened Monday night.”

Neither Shadell nor his attorney, Ray Castro, would comment on the case Thursday. Jim Shadell said in an interview Wednesday: “Dad thought he was doing the best thing for her. His love for her was beyond imagination, and he couldn’t stand to see her pain.”

Boles said La Mesa police have interviewed Shadell, the department’s officers and paramedics who were at the scene, and a family friend who was at the couple’s home sometime Monday night. They also are hoping that Elizabeth Shadell will regain consciousness. Although she has been unable to speak, she was able before the drug overdose to understand other people when they spoke to her, and communicate by making gestures with her left arm.

“We don’t know now whether the lady will live or die,” Boles said. “But if there is any chance we could communicate with her about what happened, it would help tremendously.”

If there is enough evidence compiled to charge Shadell with attempted murder, Boles said, he would be prosecuted regardless of whether he thought his wife wanted to die.

“We’re researching all the legal principles involved, but if the evidence is there, we can’t legally ignore it, regardless of the motive,” Boles said. “He’s a respected member of the community, and we want to look at this all very carefully.”