In a quiet Bloomfield home in Pittsburgh, a tragedy unfolded that would leave a family shattered and a community in shock. Catherine Willett, a 79-year-old woman, was found dead on her bedroom floor from a single gunshot wound to the head. The initial belief that this was a 'mercy killing' quickly unraveled to reveal a darker story of a planned murder-suicide.
On the evening of Thursday, January 23, 2014, Catherine's two elderly sisters, who lived with her and her husband, Phillip Willett, heard a commotion upstairs. Catherine went to check on her 79-year-old husband, who was suffering from terminal throat cancer. An argument ensued, with Catherine's sisters overhearing her plead, 'Don't do that,' and 'Why are you doing this?'. Her final words to her husband were, 'Please, Phil, I love you,' before a gunshot silenced her voice. Phillip's voice was then heard saying, 'I am in so much pain,' and 'I don't want to live anymore.'.
Investigators soon determined that this was not an act of mercy for a suffering spouse, as Catherine was in good health. Instead, they concluded that Phillip, facing his own mortality, chose to take his wife with him. After shooting Catherine, he turned the gun on himself, but the weapon jammed, foiling his suicide attempt.
Phillip Willett was taken into custody but due to his deteriorating medical condition, he was not jailed. He was placed under police guard at UPMC Mercy Hospital. He was charged with criminal homicide, but his declining health prevented him from being formally arraigned. A few days later, on Monday, January 28, 2014, Phillip Willett died in the hospital, closing the final chapter on this tragic event.
