Eva Visco, aged 74, passed away on December 26, 2000, in Deltona, Florida. Her death was the result of a gunshot wound to the head, inflicted by her husband, Leo Visco. The incident was described as a mercy killing, as Eva had been suffering from chronic illness and was considered a frail elder. Leo Visco, who was 81 years old at the time, claimed that the act was part of a suicide pact between him and his wife.
On the day of the incident, Leo prepared breakfast for Eva, consisting of pancakes and prune juice, before laying her on their bed and shooting her with a .22 caliber revolver. Despite his initial intention to end his own life as well, Leo backed out after realizing Eva was still breathing. She was taken to a hospital where she died a few hours later.
Following the incident, Leo Visco was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. However, as part of a plea deal, the charge was reduced to manslaughter. Leo pleaded guilty to the lesser charge and was sentenced to five years of suspended prison time and ten years of probation. The plea deal was a result of negotiations between the prosecution and defense, which also involved discarding state sentencing guidelines that typically determine the length of prison time. This allowed the judge to have discretion in sentencing, ranging from probation to a maximum of 30 years in prison.
The case drew attention to the issue of mercy killings and murder-suicide pacts among the elderly. Mental health experts noted that such cases are not uncommon, with national estimates suggesting that around 2,000 people die in murder-suicides each year, a significant portion of whom are over the age of 55. Leo Visco's defense argued that his actions were driven by his wife's persistent requests to end her suffering, framing the incident as an assisted suicide rather than a premeditated murder. Despite the tragic circumstances, the court's decision to grant a more lenient sentence reflected the complexities and moral dilemmas inherent in cases involving mercy killings.
