Deaths of an Iowa Mother, Child Raise Mental Health Awareness
Sherri Sinclair hopes the story of the deaths of her daughter and grandson will help others prevent tragedies related to mental illnesses.
Kelli Sly
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Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Monday, December 3, 2012
A Family Tragedy (Part 2): The Last Days
How would you react if you found out your child had taken her own life and the life of your grandchild? Sherri Sinclair knows.
Editor's Note: The first part of this two-part series ran on Sunday, Dec. 2. You can read it here. Sherri Sinclair had a tumultuous relationship with her daughter, Kelli Sly. At times the Waukee woman and her 23-year-old daughter were close as they planned how to help Kelli fight her demons, care for her son and find work. Then, problems would crop up and Sinclair would be shut out of her daughter's life and, by extension, her grandson Gavin's life, too. Despite the struggle, what happened last March was unimaginable -- Kelli killed her 2-year-old son and the next day killed herself by driving her car into a concrete bridge support. Sinclair chose to tell Kelli's story not only because it's cathartic, but because she hopes it might shed …
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Sunday, December 2, 2012
A Family Tragedy (Part 1): A Mother's Struggle to Help Her Daughter
In March, Waukee High School graduate Kelli Sly took her own life and the life of her 2-year-old son. Her 23 years were a struggle, says her mother, Sherri Sinclair.
First of two parts Nine months ago, Kelli Sly, a 23-year-old single mom with a history of behavioral issues, insurmountable demons and depression, took the life of her 2-year-old son, Gavin, and the next day killed herself. For Sly's mother, Sherri Sinclair of Waukee, what happened on March 24 and 25 closed the window on years of anger, frustration and illness and opened a door to unimaginable sadness. "She was very unhappy on this Earth," says Sinclair of Kelli. "I hate that they’re both gone, but I know why Gavin is with her and I'm glad. I'm not OK that they’re gone, but I’m OK that they’re together." Sinclair chose to tell Kelli's story not only because it's cathartic, but because she hopes it might shed light on the difficulties of …
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A Family Tragedy: Recognizing the Signs and How to Get Help for Mental Illness
Kelli Sly's battle with mental illness ultimately led to her demise. Would you recognize the signs and would you know how to get help for you or your loved one?
Depression, to whatever degree, can often be confused or overlooked, especially in young people. Jeff Kerber, clinic administrator for Iowa Health Counseling Centers, says depression is categorized as having five or more symptoms that include sadness, guilt, irritability, loss of energy, loss of interest, changes in sleep, appetite changes and suicidal thoughts. In an interview earlier this year, Kerber said one thing to keep in mind when trying to assess a person's level of depression is whether they appear different from their usual self. "The first thing to sort out is how someone's mood differs from their norm," he said. "Maybe they're always in a transient mood, pretty down or frustrated. The critical thing is to what degree is that …
maxine weimer
10:46 am on Sunday, December 2, 2012
Depression is a very sad thing. In children it is even worse. My 16 year old nephew hung himself in the barn last year.My sister was devestated and still is. I believe he was being bullied at school and it may have contributed to this outcome. more ›
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Daughter Who Killed Son and Self Was Suicidal, Waukee Mother Says; Expert Weighs-In on the Signs
Kelli Sly, 23, had been battling depression and suicidal thoughts in the days leading up to the killing of her son and her subsequent suicide over the weekend.
It's hard to say when Kelli Sly hit bottom. The 23-year-old graduate of Waukee High School and mother to 2-year-old Gavin struggled with the problems of everyday life, according to interviews with her mother, Sherri Sinclair of Waukee. But apparently it wasn't just the separation from her husband, a lost job or even feeling alone in caring for her young son that made her decide to take his life, as well as her own, over the weekend. Sinclair told The Des Moines Register that Sly had been battling depression and bipolar disorder since she was a teenager. Sinclair told The Register that Sly told her Saturday that she was having suicidal thoughts, which happened before. Police say that officers who were called to check on her that night were…
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What Went Wrong With Waukee Grad Who Killed Son, Self? (OPINION)
What Kelli Sly did to her young son and herself is incomprehensible -- until you understand that depression is more than just a bout of sadness.
You probably didn't know Kelli Sly, but in the last couple days, you've probably heard a lot about her. The 23-year-old Waukee High School graduate made headlines over the weekend for allegedly killing her 2 year-old son, Gavin and then taking her own life by crashing her car into a concrete bridge support. I bet I know what you're thinking, "How could she?" That's what I thought too when I first heard the news. As a mom of three, stories like Sly's punch me right in the gut. I can't imagine how a mother could be driven to take the life of her own child and then her own. Or can I? Honestly, yeah, I can. In fact, if Kelli Sly were alive right now and she had confided in me that she was in a dark place and felt lost and unhappy, I'd tell you…
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Brady Sinclair
7:11 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Jody, words can't describe how significant this piece means to me. My mom, Sherri Sinclair showed me this article and it honestly added a comforting perspective to this whole tragic situation. No one can truly understand what it's like unless you've been there yourself. Thank you so much for your humble opinion. Most people just want to exploit a tragic situation like this in the news, but not … more ›
maxine weimer
10:24 am on Monday, December 3, 2012
I feel so bad for Sherri having to deal with not only the deaths of her daughter and grandson but also everything she had to endure during all those other attempts of suicide. It's hard to read some else's mind. And sometimes your own children are the hardest to understand. The sollice here is that I believe thier spirits are together now in a happy place where Kelli no longer has demons to deal … more ›