12/24/2025
Another life redirected. Another family given hope.✨
We are deeply grateful for a successful court outcome and the safe transport of our forensic patient by Drew and Logan from Volusia County Branch Jail to Lifeskills Behavioral Health Ft. Lauderdale in collaboration with Holy Cross Hospital (Fort Lauderdale).
Approximately two months ago, Drew and Jill were asked to evaluate an 84-year-old male incarcerated on a charge that, on paper, read “attempted murder.” What we encountered in reality was something far more complex — a decades-long love story intertwined with mental health decline, neurological impairment, and the invisible weight of aging.
Our patient was experiencing:
• Major depressive symptoms
• Cognitive decline and suspected neurological impairment
• Psychosocial stressors related to aging and health
• A psychotic break with suicidal ideation
At the center of it all was a man married to his teenage sweetheart for 60 years, terrified not of death — but of leaving her behind….
Who would care for her?
How would she go on without their shared life and love?
This culminated in a tragic, desperate moment — an attempted murder–suicide — not rooted in malice, but in untreated depression, fear, and neurological deterioration. Thankfully, both survived, allowing space for intervention, accountability, and treatment.
After a comprehensive forensic evaluation and treatment planning by Drew and Jill, and through critical collaboration with Christina Hedley, Esq. of Bogin, Munns & Munns, P.A., the honorable court recognized the clinical reality of this case. The original charges were mitigated to battery, and the defendant was placed on 15 years probation with a mandated transition to treatment.
He will now undergo:
• Intensive neuropsychiatric evaluation
• Advanced medical imaging (MRI and neurological scans)
• Coordinated psychiatric and medical interventions
• Long-term care planning with dignity and oversight
Why this matters
Depression in older adults is frequently misunderstood, overlooked, or misattributed to “normal aging.” When combined with cognitive decline, neurological disease, or early dementia, the results can be catastrophic — not just for patients, but for families and communities.
This case is a powerful reminder that:
• Aging brains require specialized mental health assessment
• Neurological changes can dramatically alter behavior and judgment
• Compassion, clinical insight, and advocacy save lives
This outcome did not erase the harm — but it prevented further tragedy and replaced punishment with appropriate care.
We are honored to stand in the gap where medicine, mental health, and the legal system intersect.
If you or someone you love is struggling with aging-related depression, cognitive decline, or forensic mental health concerns, help exists — and early intervention matters.
