Tragic Double Death

It seems we have been losing more lives every year to mental illness, it’s becoming alarmingly frequent in the everyday news. This is no exception!

My name is Ron Tomlinson, and I have created this Go Fund Me page in support of my daughter Nicole Tomlinson.

Sunday evening (May 22nd) Nikki received the news that her Mother had passed away unexpectedly at her home in Georgia (Nikki lives in Wisconsin). At that point in time, the cause was unknown.

Her step-father had been suffering from the onset of dementia for quite a while and her Mother had been his caregiver. The evening of her Mother’s passing, her step-father called Nikki and made comments to the effect that he couldn’t live without his wife. Nikki reassured him as best she could that all would be ok, but despite her best efforts, the next morning Nikki received the news that her step-father had attempted suicide, and died on the way to the hospital.

Nikki has since been to Georgia and has learned that her Step-Father had recently been diagnosed with some form of Schizophrenia. It is assumed that Nikki’s Step-Father had (whether by design or mental incapability) killed her Mother, and then took his own life. Regardless, since these deaths remain under investigation, there is a hold on how to proceed with any further arrangements.

Nikki is not aware at this time exactly what, if any, life insurance was in place as the initial search has not reveled any will or life insurance policies. Nikki has two brothers (step and half-brothers) who will be helping to make all of the arrangements, but only one lives in Georgia, and none of the three are financially well off. No one can ever be prepared for something like this!! Nikki will have to make multiple trips to Georgia, some by plane and some by vehicle, to bring back any items from the house and two discovered storage units. There is so much uncertainty in play at this time, but needless to say it looks as if it will be an expensive undertaking.

As of writing this, Nikki is anticipating to have to travel to Georgia at least two or three more times. Once to get the estate in the process of being settled, another to travel for a Memorial service and then another to finalize the estate. The first trip was without her children, however one of the trips will have her children with her for the memorial service. She has no idea at present how long this process for the estate will take as the investigation seems to be a slow process. In the meantime, Nikki will have to pay for travel, most likely attorney and court fees, and any number of unknown funeral or other expenses, all without knowing if there is going to be any help that will come from the estate. Further, the estate process could possibly take a year or more…she just cannot know what will happen.

My first wish is that you would pray for Nikki and her step and half-brothers, Troy and James. This is going to be a long and exhausting ordeal for them!! Secondly, I would ask that if it is possible, that you could not only donate, but pass this on to others who might be willing to help as well. Nikki and the boys will have to deal forever with the pain of what has happened, however my hope is to ease the financial burden this has placed upon them. Mental illness affects us all in one form or another.