Battling Charges After Boyfriend’s Suicide
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UPDATE: THE CHARGES WERE DISMISSED! See my update! Thank you, everyone, for all of your help!
My boyfriend was Sean McKenzie. On October 31, Sean ended his life. I consented to the search of the apartment and am now being charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the 4th degree because a modified gun was found in the apartment, which had both my name and Sean’s on the lease. Unfortunately, the teen that sold him the gun he used to end his life was not arrested due to a lack of substantial evidence, even though the State Police have text message conversations on Sean’s phone about it. My name is Maria Mejia. I am an undergratuate student at SUNY New Paltz with a double Major in Fine Arts and Spanish. I plan to return for a Master’s in Education because I want to be a teacher. I already spoke with my lawyer, who was a family friend of Sean’s, and he is working with me to help me but I desperate need your help to cover his reduced fee. I can’t afford this, as it has to be paid in full prior to the court date, February 6th. I received a phone call while I was on my way to the college to enroll in my class that the State Police Investigator Terwilliger needed to ask me some questions regarding Sean’s phone. He told me he was going to call my mother, and he did, explaining that I was not in any trouble and not to worry about how long I am being questioned for. I went after I handled my business at the college. He asked me some questions & then brought in the gun that was allegedly registered to me. It looked like a plastic elbow macaroni pasta. It didn’t resemble a gun whatsoever and I swear on everything that is holy that I did not touch or modify that weapon whatsoever. I was then searched and brought to the back of the police station. The investigator told me he needed to cuff my ankle to the bench in case his supervisor came out back. I asked him why and he said it was policy. I asked if I was being arrested and he said “no.” After another officer asks me to stand up so that he can remove the ankle cuff and take me to do a mugshot I said that I wanted to know if I was under arrest and finally Detective Terwilliger said “you’re under arrest.” My lawyer is doing the best he can do to help me, and cannot believe that the police are charging me with this crime, especially since after nearly 3 months since Sean’s passing. Sean’s death came as a complete surprise to me. I never would have imagined he would do that. On various doctors visits he was adamant that he was not suicidal but just needed medicine to cope with his disorder. He seemed very happy with me and loved my family as much as they loved him. I believe that losing his best friend, and then another friend 2 days before he died is what drove him over that edge. I miss him terribly. I cry for him every day. I’ll never have him back, no matter what I do. I don’t want this charge to ruin all of the hard work I’ve done. I want to be a teacher. I’m 21 credits away from graduating. If this sticks, I’ll never be able to find gainful employment. I have a clean record, I’ve never committed any crimes. I’m not a criminal. Please help me!
My boyfriend was Sean McKenzie. On October 31, Sean ended his life. I consented to the search of the apartment and am now being charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the 4th degree because a modified gun was found in the apartment, which had both my name and Sean’s on the lease. Unfortunately, the teen that sold him the gun he used to end his life was not arrested due to a lack of substantial evidence, even though the State Police have text message conversations on Sean’s phone about it. My name is Maria Mejia. I am an undergratuate student at SUNY New Paltz with a double Major in Fine Arts and Spanish. I plan to return for a Master’s in Education because I want to be a teacher. I already spoke with my lawyer, who was a family friend of Sean’s, and he is working with me to help me but I desperate need your help to cover his reduced fee. I can’t afford this, as it has to be paid in full prior to the court date, February 6th. I received a phone call while I was on my way to the college to enroll in my class that the State Police Investigator Terwilliger needed to ask me some questions regarding Sean’s phone. He told me he was going to call my mother, and he did, explaining that I was not in any trouble and not to worry about how long I am being questioned for. I went after I handled my business at the college. He asked me some questions & then brought in the gun that was allegedly registered to me. It looked like a plastic elbow macaroni pasta. It didn’t resemble a gun whatsoever and I swear on everything that is holy that I did not touch or modify that weapon whatsoever. I was then searched and brought to the back of the police station. The investigator told me he needed to cuff my ankle to the bench in case his supervisor came out back. I asked him why and he said it was policy. I asked if I was being arrested and he said “no.” After another officer asks me to stand up so that he can remove the ankle cuff and take me to do a mugshot I said that I wanted to know if I was under arrest and finally Detective Terwilliger said “you’re under arrest.” My lawyer is doing the best he can do to help me, and cannot believe that the police are charging me with this crime, especially since after nearly 3 months since Sean’s passing. Sean’s death came as a complete surprise to me. I never would have imagined he would do that. On various doctors visits he was adamant that he was not suicidal but just needed medicine to cope with his disorder. He seemed very happy with me and loved my family as much as they loved him. I believe that losing his best friend, and then another friend 2 days before he died is what drove him over that edge. I miss him terribly. I cry for him every day. I’ll never have him back, no matter what I do. I don’t want this charge to ruin all of the hard work I’ve done. I want to be a teacher. I’m 21 credits away from graduating. If this sticks, I’ll never be able to find gainful employment. I have a clean record, I’ve never committed any crimes. I’m not a criminal. Please help me!
Organizer
Maria D J Mejia
Organizer
New Paltz, NY
