A woman from Pennsylvania, Mandie Reusch, has been charged with aiding the suicide of her estranged boyfriend, Kevin Metzger, after allegedly sending him a series of distressing text messages and a video of her engaging in sexual activity with another man. Prosecutors claim that the messages sent by Reusch were described as "heinous and graphic" and caused significant turmoil for Metzger, who was training at a US Army academy at the time. The investigation into Metzger's death has been ongoing for two years, and officials have uncovered evidence of the disturbing messages and their impact on his mental state.
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According to prosecutors, the messages began in May 2021 while Metzger was away for military training, leaving Reusch at home with their daughter. In the text messages sent via WhatsApp, Reusch expressed her intention to move in with another man, stating that he would become their daughter's new father and implying that Metzger would be excluded from their lives. The messages took a dark turn, with Reusch expressing hopes that Metzger would end his own life and stating that their daughter would be better off without him. She even sent messages on Mother's Day, informing Metzger that she would be engaging in sexual activity with her new partner while their daughter referred to him as "daddy."
The disturbing messages continued, with Reusch expressing intense anger and resentment towards Metzger. She threatened him, saying he would "burn in hell" and that she would dance on his grave. In a particularly cruel act, she sent Metzger a video of herself having sex with another man and destroyed some of his belongings following an argument over money. Initially charged with harassment when Metzger made a complaint in June 2021, Reusch now faces more serious charges in connection with his suicide.
Metzger's friend, concerned about his well-being, contacted the police, leading to the discovery of Metzger's lifeless body on June 18, 2021, just two days before Father's Day. Reusch's messages leading up to Father's Day indicated that she would prevent Metzger from seeing their daughter, prompting a friend of his to request that the messages be made public. After Metzger's death, Reusch deleted WhatsApp from her home, which further raised suspicions.
Nicole Ziccarelli, the District Attorney of Westmoreland County, described the messages as relentless and continuous, alleging that they played a significant role in driving Metzger to take his own life at the age of 37. Ziccarelli expressed condolences to the Metzger family and emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated.
Reusch, who was identified in a 2020 article as a booking agent for an alcoholic beverages company, now faces charges of aiding suicide, a felony, as well as harassment, a misdemeanor. Her first court appearance is scheduled for June 27. Metzger, an Army veteran with nearly 20 years of service, was remembered as a devoted father, a dedicated friend, and someone who had a passion for the outdoors and live music.
