In the quiet community of Mountlake Terrace, Washington, the life of 73-year-old Caucasian female, Rosalea Flint, came to a tragic end on October 28, 2015. Her death, which was later determined to be a homicide, was the result of a gunshot wound to the head. The circumstances surrounding her passing were deeply intertwined with the love and despair of her husband of 55 years, 75-year-old Russell Flint.
On that Wednesday, the couple was discovered inside their car at Terrace Creek Park, a
place also known to locals as Candy Cane Park. Both Rosalea and Russell had sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the head. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office officially ruled Rosalea's death a homicide and Russell's a suicide, pointing to a heart-wrenching murder-suicide. There were no other suspects, as the investigation concluded that Russell Flint was solely responsible for the death of his wife before taking his own life.
Further details emerged that cast a somber light on the motive behind the tragedy. Detectives came to view the event as a suspected "mercy killing." Rosalea had been living with dementia, and her husband was her caregiver. A note left behind by Russell Flint for their family expressed his sorrow and inability to watch his wife continue to "waste away and lose what dignity she has left." He wrote that she had no joy in her life and that he hadn't seen her smile in three years. This poignant final message from a loving husband painted a sorrowful picture of their final days. The couple, who had been together since high school, had built a life together, raising two children and enjoying their retirement by camping and traveling. In their memory, their family suggested contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association of North America.
