Evelyn Harvey, a 93-year-old woman, died on December 6, 2015, in El Paso, Texas. She was a resident of a nursing home and was terminally ill. Evelyn was shot in the back of her head while in her bed. Her body was discovered the following morning.
Her husband, Nelson Harvey, who was 91 years old at the time, allegedly confessed to killing her. According to reports, Nelson claimed he was tired of Evelyn's suffering and decided to end her life. He was arrested and charged with murder.
Nelson Harvey was held on a $25,000 bond at the El Paso Downtown Detention Center.
The case drew significant attention due to the nature of the crime and the fact that it occurred in an assisted living facility. Nelson Harvey's defense argued that he committed the act out of mercy, but he passed away in 2021 before the case could be resolved.
This tragic incident raised questions about the policies and safety measures in place at assisted living facilities, especially concerning the presence of firearms. The El Paso Police Department and the retirement center faced scrutiny over how such an event could occur in a supposed safe environment.
Despite the shocking nature of the crime, the community was left grappling with the complexities of end-of-life care and the moral implications of mercy killing.
