Woman charged with aiding estranged boyfriend’s suicide will head to trial

HARRISON CITY, Pa. — A Westmoreland County woman will head to trial after police say she sent text messages to her estranged boyfriend and father of her child, telling him to kill himself multiple times until he took his life in June 2021.

Mandie Reusch was in magistrate court on Tuesday, where prosecutors called on three witnesses to outline their case and the text messages they say Reusch sent, leading Kevin Metzger to his life.

Reusch stayed silent as she walked into the magistrate court with her lawyers, Phil DiLucente and Tim Lyon.

DiLucente said this case could be a big one in the state.

“This is going to be a case that is a first impression at least in western Pennsylvania to the best of my knowledge, and my legal research also suggests that for the state of Pennsylvania,” DiLucente said.

They didn’t call any defense witnesses to testify for Reusch’s arraignment hearing, but the state called a county detective, an Irwin police officer, and a state trooper.

They said Reusch started telling Metzger to kill himself in text messages in June of 2020. He ended up taking his life on June 18, 2021.

Police say he left behind a note saying, “Maybe she was right.”

Some of the messages police say Reusch sent to Metzger involved their young daughter, identified only by her initials.

Some of those messages read, “I hope for S.M.’s sake that you do kill yourself. She would be better off not even knowing you.”

She also allegedly sent, “Kill yourself. I mean it,” and “I actually want you to kill yourself because I think you are the worst person on this planet.”

Reusch’s defense asked the judge to toss the charges because they were filed after the two-year statute of limitations had expired. The judge did agree to toss the misdemeanor harassment charge but kept the felony charge of aiding suicide.

At the start of the hearing, prosecutors said they would consider adding an involuntary manslaughter charge, but that didn’t happen.

“I didn’t think too much about it,” DiLucente said. “It wasn’t done, I think it’s proceeding on very serious charges as it is. It’s a felony, and it’s something that we’re going to have to work very hard to make certain the facts and the law are placed in front of a tribunal.”

Reusch remains out on bond. Her next hearing is set for Aug. 30.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. You can reach the national suicide prevention lifeline 24/7 by dialing 988 or by visiting their website at https://988lifeline.org/

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