Murder suspect says he was supposed to die in dual suicide

Published 2:22 pm Friday, November 16, 2018

A man charged with his mother’s death told police he was supposed to die as well in a dual suicide.

Jeffrey Wisecup, 27, of 250 Oxford Drive, allegedly did not seek medical attention for 54-year-old Sheila Wisecup when she had a seizure on Oct. 21. Jeffrey Wisecup reported her death five days later.

During a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Winchester Police Detective Dennis Briscoe said Jeffrey Wisecup said he and his mother had talked about committing suicide together on Oct. 19 or 20. Wisecup told Briscoe his mother injected him multiple times with insulin pens, because he was afraid of needles, and he took several Tramadol pills, a narcotic painkiller. Briscoe said the pens and medication belonged to Sheila Wisecup.

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“He’s saying they both talked about an attempted suicide together,” Briscoe testified during Jeffrey Wisecup’s hearing in Clark District Court.

Jeffrey Wisecup told police he went to bed, but woke later and found his mother having a seizure in the kitchen floor. He told Briscoe he dragged her to her room, put her in bed and closed the door before going back to sleep. When he woke the following morning, Sheila Wisecup was dead.

Briscoe said Jeffrey Wisecup told other people that she died but told them not to tell anyone. He also told Briscoe he went to the liquor store and to work, but did not call the police until his brother threatened to if he did not.

Jeffrey Wisecup’s attorney Valetta Browne argued the murder charge was not appropriate, given the testimony, and there are no laws requiring prevention of a suicide or allowing assisted suicide.

“There’s been no evidence Mr. Wisecup’s actions caused her death,” she said. “This is an intentional act by a grown woman. He did not cause her to die.”

“This is clearly a case where wanton murder would apply,” Clark County Attorney Brian Thomas said. “They make a pact. They reach an agreement. His mom dies and he leaves her there.”

Clark District Judge Brandy Oliver Brown said the evidence barely met the threshold of probable cause for murder because Jeffrey Wisecup did not seek medical attention after he found his mother in the floor.

The case will now go before the Clark County grand jury for further action.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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