how horrible for this family to have their mother taken away by one of their own. my prayers are with the entire family

ok, well I would like to say i'm sorry for all the relatives, and family. i actually also knew this family personally to, for almost 20 years and they all have many problems, just like any family they have problems and isssues, but not every one "freaks out" and kills thier mother. although everyone is saying how could Mike be so insensitive, but i know personally that he did not tell his father, that Alice died that way he wouldn't say something like that. I know that they also make Alice out to be this amazing wonderful person who was ever so sweetly going to plant her flowers, but she did go through allot in her life but, she wasn't a saint by any means. i also know personally that, all of her children had problems from alcholism to inflicting mental and physical abuse, you pretty much never knew what was going to happen in that clan. sorry to ramble on but my last issue is that Howard was in jail for a dui, and he should have been at home taking care of his family, he's over 70!! thanks hope this clears some stuff up.

Well I am glad this discussion has evolved to the point of now discussing the root of the matter(mental health) and not knocking down the family. Plus, I think we can all agree on the quality of the writing (sarcasm), however!

But the fact is mental health is a big issue. Doctors will seek therapy and other modalities IF the patient is willing or family consents to it. Could be one doctor prescribing the antidepressant and another one for the sleeping pills too. And yes money is a huge factor too in seeking treatment. The cost is hard for the average person (even with insurance) to lose work for being an inpatient or even outpatient treatments. It still seems taboo about having mental health problems, but many many people do, and will not seek out treatment, which I believe is due to the high costs and/or the idea of admitting yeah I have a problem.

No, no. I don't believe doctors spend enough time getting to the root cause and offer acceptable ways to deal with pain, trauma, disappointment (and I don't mean the kind of disappointment when the grocery store is out of your favorite flavor of ice cream), and other life events that cause one to lose their ability to function. It is easier to write out a prescription and heavily medicate someone than it is to actually offer gentle guidance and emotional support that can help someone to logically work through the stress, pain or loss in a healthier way.

The solution to EVERYTHING today is: pop a pill. For everything from a headache to ED. The medical profession is eager to send out that $150.00 office visit bill, but do they spend any time trying to discover why their patient is asking for an anti-depressant, an anti-anxiety or quick fix to feel better? I'm not necessarily blaming the doctor(s) who wrote the prescriptions that the son was taking that ended in this tragedy; however, I wish there was less stigma (and expense) involved in asking for help when you know you aren't "right" and I wish more people were willing to stand up and fight for people who others don't think are "worth it".

The aptly named "Kid" says:

*another fatality indirectly caused by prescription meds.*

*the biggest fattest drug dealers there are. drs, bought and paid for by the pharmaceutical companies.*

Yup, prescription drugs--they're all worthless! But marijuana should be legal!

Anyway, what are you trying to say, that mentally ill people can't be medicated?

Still others are saying is that they can't be locked up in mental hospitals indefinitely because that's "cruel".

Yet others say that when they do gut someone like a fish they can't be locked up in prison because they're "not guilty" by reason of insanity--rather than "guilty by reason of insanity".

End result of all this poorly applied illogic is that we should just let these wolves wander among the flock and do nothing when they tear one of the sheep's throats out. Nice.

It's a wonder this society is even still functioning.

StupidJanesville - Poor journalism? Please explain (sans sarcasm). As far as the title of the piece, are you having a problem with the term, "freak out"? (The term which was initially used by Howard in the description of his own son's reaction to over-medication.) In your stellar opinion, what would be a more acceptable title?

The removal had nothing to do with your criticism of the Gazette staff. Any reader of these comments knows we allow such criticism all the time.

The comment was removed because of offensive language.

Scott W. Angus
Editor

Apparently your comments are removed if you give your opinion about the stellar writers on the Janesville Gazette staff.

To reiterate what I said, this is an example of poor journalism, and even worse writing ability. There are far better ways to "report" this tragedy then how this writer chose to. I believe the title was very insensitive as well.

hello whatever_is_is. You are right on the money about Alice and her family. The parents went over and beyond taking care of their children and grandchildren. I think Alice was the only one that was the rock in the family that kept it together. They will definitely have difficult times ahead without her.

However, mental illness is a serious and often overlooked issue. I do blame part of the illness and mix of rx. that caused Jeffrey to do this. Getting help is hard if the person is not even aware or willing to do so. Not easy telling a 45 year old man to seek help! I do hope they will all consider counseling to help pull this ordeal.

I have known this family for the past 7 years and this is an awful thing for anyone to go through. These parents have bent over backwards to take care of the children that have lived off of them. They have been supporting 2 of there children well into there adult lives and they shouldn't have to have been doing that. Other than still raising there 2 adult children, Alice was pretty much the primary care provider for her 5 year old granddaughter. Alice had the heart of gold and will be greatly missed by many, and especially by her ungreatful daughter, only because grandma won't be there to take care of her daughter any longer. I think it is a cop-op to blame this behavior on his medication. Lets take some responsibility for ones own actions here and stop blaming EVERYTHING on mental illness. I also think the written article was very choppy and all over the place. I don't think we can get on Mike for the way he said how his mother was killed, good gosh, he just lost him Mom people!!! How do we know how we would act or what we would say in that sort of setting. Is there a right or wrong way to say something in a time like this?

First, let me say I feel bad for all involved. What a life they must have had to do deal with for some time. Cancer, RX abuse, possible alcholism and family issues. Now, to shed some light on why one just never knows who will flip out next (for whatever reason) I want u to one day do this...stay home from work and watch daytime tv. Especially the show called SNAPPED. You will see there are hundreds if not 1000's of people out there who are whacked out! It scares me, cuz u never know who will flip out next. Where I am going with this is that it sounds like this was a family who endured a lot of hardships and one member wasnt strong enough to handle it and flipped...
If the bottom fell out of your family, could all your family members endure?

I just thought of something...did anyone get where son "freaked out" before stabbing came from? I find that title a bit out of sorts.

Not to be brass, but this is probably only the beginning of people snapping. True, maybe this wasn't a direct reaction to the economy, but it is all over the news that murders and suicides are taking place because of depression. It is too bad that this family couldn't identify the need for more help before it came to this. I am so sad for all of you.

and logical:)

I don't think I want thekid... on my case; he's relentless.

HEY! thekid is alive and well! gazettefan has been wondering how you've been!

thats what im talkin about sassy. the biggest fattest drug dealers there are. drs, bought and paid for by the pharmaceutical companies.

I knew Alice. She was a very kind, gentle, dear, sweet Lady. I am sure that her family will miss her dearly as all her friends will also. I am sure she is in a better place now and is watching over all those she loved and cared for. May God keep you close Alice, you are loved and will be missed by many.

not to go off topic, but doctors get kickbacks for prescribing certain meds. It's a horrible tragedy that this family and so many others deal with mental illness and instead of being taught how to manage their illness or given tools to cope, they are given prescriptions and drugged into a completely different personality. It's a tragedy. I don't know this family, however, I do offer my sympathies. Something went horribly, horribly wrong.

ALSO Janesvillean - I DO know people on mood meds and the doctors just prescribe and then make an appt a month later to see how it's working for them. They don't "closely watch" them like you claim they should...

My previous comment was removed but I still stand by my OPINION that the father and brothers are nutty. I am entitled to my opinion, as is everyone else that has posted on here. I don't know the family so I cannot take this story personally and I don't have a family/friend that has the issues these men are going thru, or the health problems the mother was going thru. BUT - if you have the criminal (DUI) record the father has, the med/alcohol problem Jeff has and the fact that the other brother could say something so plainly, like "he ran a knife thru her" about his own mother.... then to ME, that just seems a little crazy.... Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for them, especially the woman that was killed and for the rest of the family that is left without their mother/wife/friend but I was just stating my OPINION, and again, take it as you will.

This is a story about a murder.

Here-Here. I agree rlms. I think the family deserves a little more "tactfullness". This is a tragedy and should be treated as such.

Gazette reporters don't know about tack. They write like this is some tabloid rag.

I put the blame to the reporter in the way she reported it. I think too much information of their family life was given and could have been more tactfully written. I guess the viewers here are entitled to their opinion, but I want to say that I have know this family (from childhood) and they were a very close family through thick and thin. Alice was a wonderful lady whose whole life was her family. She was sweet and always had a smile. She did not deserve this, but unfortunately a bad mix of rx. from Jeffrey proved fatal. My thoughts and prayers goes to the Newberg family to endure this. Like someone had commented earlier, mental illness and/or bad mix of rx. is hard to relate to unless you have been there yourself or know someone..... And no these people are not from GM!

just because the father was in jail doesnt mean he would have been found easily to tell him. this is walworth county. they are not the smartest. my brother had been locked up in the jail for over a month when the cops came to my moms house looking for him and she had to inform them that they already had him.

aside from that my heart goes out to this family i couldnt imagine the pain they feel.

garyprimer, you asked, I answered. Your questions are better thought out than most, even if I don't always agree with you.

I am sorry until you live with someone who is mentally ill, and you face all the challenges and walls in terms of getting some one help. Keep your xxxx to yourself. You have no clue.

My thoughts and prays are with all involved.

Excuse me for asking questions. Maybe this story should not have been in the paper as it certainly must upset the family. All the goody-two-shoe types can keep their comments to themselves as far as I am concerned.

another fatality indirectly caused by prescription meds.

I'm flagging two of the preceding comments which are completely uncalled for.
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There is an association with antidepressants and violent behavior, though it isn't as great as some reporting has made it to be. Anyone being prescribed a mood medication should be under close medical supervision until their response is understood to be stable.
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This must be such a shock to the family, and my heart goes out to them.
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garyprimer, mental health studies have shown that there is a wide range of reactions to traumatic events. TV cops (and real cops) sometimes use lunchroom psychology to decide whether someone is reacting "appropriately" to a homicide, but that's not really supported by anything. Some people get hysterical while others go numb.
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I'm more surprised that the husband wasn't contacted by authorities immediately. It's not like he would have been difficult to find.

There comes a time when you should keep your comments to yourself.

My thoughts go to the family in this horible, unthinkable tragedy.

He finally reached his son, Michael, about 8:30 p.m.
“I said, ‘I’ve been calling the house all day. Where’s mom?’ And he said, ‘Mom isn’t there anymore,’” Howard said. “And I said, ‘Where is she?’ And he said, ‘Jeff ran a knife through her.’
This is as troubling as everything else in this story. How could the other son Michael make such a matter-of-fact comment about a murder? Why didn't he call 911? Who was taking care of the 5 year old? I recall something about a sister being there in the initial news release. Was she aware of the situation? I think that these are legitimate questions.

Oh, please...

I think you can spare the disparaging remarks for a tragedy of this magnitude.