Couple in murder of 5 kids/suicide definitely were living beyond their means but not that bad off

[Liberal_in_LA]

I don't mean to pile on but holy moly! pay of $40 hours each translates to a family income of 160K if they both worked full time

Couple in Wilmington murder-suicide fired for alleged fraud

Ervin and Ana Lupoe lost their jobs at Kaiser for allegedly falsifying income records to qualify for a child care program. The couple and their five children were found dead Tuesday.

By Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton
January 29, 2009

The man believed to be responsible for killing his wife, five children and himself in Wilmington had been fired from his hospital job along with his wife for allegedly forging a supervisor's signature on a child care application, according to Kaiser Permanente officials.

Diana Bonta, vice president for public affairs at Kaiser Permanente, said the couple falsified income records so they could qualify for a child care program run by Crystal Stairs, a nonprofit child development agency located near the West Los Angeles medical center where they worked.

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Several police sources familiar with the investigation told The Times that Ervin and Ana Lupoe made upward of $40 an hour each in their work as radiological technicians for the hospital. But the couple made it appear that they were earning between $7 and $10 an hour, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.

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The couple's financial situation, though pressing in recent months, did not appear to be especially dire. The Lupoes were behind one month in their mortgage, investigators said. They found notices of two bounced checks -- one for about $15,000, the other for almost $2,000 -- to pay for property taxes and penalties, according to the police sources. Investigators said it did not appear they were behind on their credit card payments.

In the last two years, the couple had finished a home remodel that included the master bedroom and bathroom, and purchased new kitchen appliances including an industrial-grade refrigerator, the sources said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-children-killed29-2009jan29,0,1026866.story

[rufus dog]

1. Did you ever have a math problem or an activity that you just couldn't get past

Then when you did you realized how easy it was? Unfortunately we are going to see a lot more of this. People in despair that can't see the big picture. I am down the road from you in the OC and it is just starting to get ugly. People lose a job, can't make the big mortgage and think all is lost. IT IS A FUCKING HOUSE! We have all been programmed to believe that a big house, new car, vacation in Hawaii is a required.

The important thing is for everyone to keep an eye out for your neighbors and family. Walk the dog, play with the kids in the street. And if the subject comes up let your neighbors know it is tough times, but a lot of options exist. Move in with a parent, a brother or sister. IMO this is just the beginning.

[anonymous171]

2. Yep. The Consumer "lifestyle" is a hard habit to break.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. Agreed. This couple owed the IRS $15K. Not such a big deal anymore when people now carry

75K student loans or 50K car loans. The IRS will allow person to pay on installments. A financial debt isn't worth killing your whole family, for gawd's sake!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

4. Another example of how Parenthood Makes You A Better Person.

Oh, I'm sure I'm going to get flamed for this. :eyes:

[cali]

7. Not by me. Claiming broadly that parenthood makes people

better, is a load of hooey. And I'm a parent.

[JI7]

5. could it have more to do with the father feeling shame among "friends"

or other people they knew rather than whether they could deal with the financial troubles itself? shame in having to change their lifestyle.

[Divine Discontent]

6. dude killed his family - he was mentally ill or depressed - financial pain is common among MOST of

our society, we don't see people killing each other. Unfortunately, it's times like this (bad economy, no jobs, home loss) that try the soft mental state of those in society who need everything to be going relatively good for them not to crack. And again, we don't know the whole story, who KNOWS what was going on within their lives.