justforthis says

to: Wiredmama222

This will be my last post as we need to move on from thisbut after reading your message, i needed to say one thing to you. Please don't ever consider this an option.  I am sure if you ask his wife and kids, they would have rather him be a so calll "burden" and taking care of him til he passed of natural causes then to have to be going through what they are going through now.  The pain of how it was done and the questions of why is so much harder to bare.

Thank you to everyone who have sent their condolensces.

liz

wiredmama222 says

Dear Liz, if you read this at this late date, my heart and sympathy goes out to your family.  I totally understand your uncle. I, too, have a medical problem and there are times I have thought about ending my life so I won't be a burden to anyone. What stops me is what that would do to my family and it stops me from doing exactly what your uncle did. But I do understand it.

I hope he rests in peace and that he rests in the palm of God's hand for all eternity.  Take heart in knowing that he is past the pain and heartache he was feeling and now he won't suffer any longer. While that may seem trite and of little use right now, it may mean more as time goes on.

God bless you all in your next few days and forever. 

dont blame me says

My condolences to Mr. Highfill’s family but what’s also really troubling is the incompetence of the Sheriff’s Office and other officials at the scene for failing to locate the firearm in the vehicle.  If it weren’t for the coroner the truth may have never been known and his death would have remained a mystery. 

justforthis says

Thanks everyone for the nice comments. Now I would like to address the Walmart being a bad place issue. I know Walmart has a bad wrap but this Walmart has been exceptionally nice.  First, they have kept the family fed. This is a big task as Charles(we called him Sonny),has a wife and 6 brothers and their wifes, two adult childern their spouses, grandkids and several friends. Walmart kept sending food and anything else that was needed to the house. They are helping the family organize a memorial service for Uncle Sonnys friends before he is brought back to Columbus to be laid to rest. They have also decided to take the spot where the car was parked and turn it into a memorial with a bird feeder because Uncle Sonny loved to sit in his car, in that same spot, and feed the birds. So, please consider  how great the people at the Port Clinton Walmart has been. They have really stepped up and made this time of sorrow easier on his wife, kids and family.

lovepink says

 i am sorry for the family of the guy that had got burned in the car at walmart even though i dont know u  i will think about u and u will be in my prayers because that is a very scary thing to happen at your job 

katelih says

 Its good to know..This man didnt burn to death...

krisag says

My thoughts are with you in this time of need. I know all too well how you feel, as a member of my family chose the same fate.

czechurself says

@ Blacktigress, although well meaning, you are still confused.  The man who died in the Walmart parking lot is not the man you are expressing condolences.  The man who died in the American Legion parking lot was the previous owner of Butler glass.  

The Answer Person says

If I had to work at Walmart...

savantpm says

Liz, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

SimpleEnough says

Shame the man's health started going down hill and brought this on. Prayesfor the family.

Bob Lee says

Maybe he did what he did bacause @ 69 & the thought of having

to work another day @ Walmart was just to much 4 this poor soul to handle.

Craps I'm 72 and that thought scares the %$#! outta me.

Bob Lee says

Insurance co do npt pay out on suicides.

Blacktigress says

 @ Liz. 

I just read your post and my heart goes out to you and your family. 

I was at Butler glass this week and when I read the paper the next day I was in shock!

I spoke with  the new owner and his one employee and office lady and they told me about the history of the buisness and how hthey had a very VERY high regard for your Uncle. They specifically said that he was the niceset man I would ever meet, and then the next day I read this sad news.

Prayers and best wishes for your entire family. 

PUNKYDUDE says

 If you people want to no the truth about whats going on around here and the world. Listen to coast to coast am. My son who is now at area 51 told me some stuff that blew me away.

Blacktigress says

 SanduskySteve and Sash, 

Thanks to both of you for the clarifications. In the article I read that there was a gun but no mention that he shot himself, but even so, it now makes sense. I knew in my heart when this was first reported that it was a suicide, it just felt like it. So very very sad. 

To Sash, I didn't have any idea that this went on. Kinda creepy for sure. 

thanks again

BT

2cents says

Thank you Liz, I am sad for your loss, after reading the paper earlier in the day, the entire story and comments, I kind of surmised what you said here, It just added up. Good luck to you and your family he must have been a very special man, may god bless all of you.

M,

justforthis says

I am the niece of Charles Highfill and i just wanted to address some of the issues talked about in the above comments. First and foremost, my uncle had no intentions of kiling anyone but himself. He was having several medical issues and was very depressed. From what we know, he got out of the car and was to believ to have chest pains. He told the family that he didn't want to keep going in and out of the hospital. Last week he had an attack at work.. He was depressed but he would never ever hurt any other person.  He enjoyed his job and the people he worked with and looked forward to going to work. He felt he had friends there. But his medical conditions were getting to him and he felt as if he was a burden to his family and he didn't want that.  He didn't want his family to have to make sure he was taken care of. He was a strong man for most of his life but recent events made him feel like he was becoming a burden. Believe me, my uncle would never hurt anyone else. Please be gentle with your comments, we are still trying to come to grips with the decision he made. He was loved by his family and he would never be a burden but he just didn't want to be sick anymore.  Thanks for reading.

Liz Highfill 

JIMBO2 says

 @ Nobody Cares. It's not something in the water it's something in the economy. Tragic acts to relief the stresses of tragjic times.

OMG.LOL.WT_ says

To all you worried about insurance:  Most insurance companies do not pay for suicide.

44846GWP says

sanduskysteve says

blacktigres - it didn't say the suicide was accidental - it said the car fire was.  My guess is that after he shot himself, his foot layed on the gas pedal, which is what accidently caught the car on fire - it is doubtful that he intended for the car fire.

As for the life insurance - as has already been stated, Walmart isn't doing anything many other businesses do.  Walmart also paid for a life policy for this person equal to one years salary and the employee knows about it as well and selects the beneficiary.  They do this for every employee.

sash says

The short answer to your question is yes. COLI (Corporate owned life insurace) policies were pretty common and widespread. They were used primarily as investment/tax write-offs. Companies insured their employees without their consent or knowledge. My earlier post would be more accurate if I'd said COLI policies without disclosure had ended in 2006. COLI policies are still issued, but Federal law requires the corporation to disclose to their employee if the company has taken out a policy on them. Most COLI policies now are used for business partners, upper management, ceo's ect. Closer to the original purpose of the policies and fitting the "insurable interest" requirement for a policy. Corporations stretched the "insurable interest" requirement for hourly, and low level employees based on the cost/loss to replace and train a new employee after a death. Most employer/employee life insurane policies don't require a medical exam if the coverage is relatively low. Spent a short(miserable) time in insurance, and our company would insure for 1.5 times annual salary without a medical exam. You wouldn't believe what companies will do to protect their profit margin. 

grandmasgirl says

Times are hard. Sometimes people don't see any other way out. My sympathy to the families that have lost loved ones to suicide.

Blacktigress says

 Oh, and how can someone 'accidentally' commit suicide?  It is or isn't a suicide, the definitions just don't connect or make sense. 

Blacktigress says

Are you two saying that people can take out an insurance policy on someone and they don't require a medical check up? I don't know any insurance company that would insure someone without a check up, are you two certain in your facts? 

margaritaville88 says

Disregard my previous question...out of respect I found out now and wish not to put it in print..Thanks

margaritaville88 says

nobodycares: Sorry to this man's family....    What was that Drs. name behind big lots? Wasn't he a Norwalk/Sandusky podiatrist???

nobodycares says

man what is with the area ............the doctor killed himself behind odd lots ........the other doctor killed him self in lake erie ............the guy the other night did it at the legion .....now this guy at walmart......is there somethign in the water ?????????????????

nobodycares says

gee i would hate for walmart to be the last place i ever visited..............guess he might have saved more but he didnt live better ...........

sash says

The term "dead peasant" policies was an industry nickname for business owned life insurance policies. I'm not a big fan of Walmart, but it's unfair to blame them for what was a widespread practice in many businesses and an appalling nickname that had been around for years. Insurance companies ceased issuing business owned life insurance policies in 2006. Except for a few states that make an exemption for a spouse, you can't insure anyone without their knowledge and consent and without proof of insurable interest through blood, marraige or business(like a business partner or ceo of a company.)

savantpm says

I hope Walmart will not be able to cash in a life insurance policy on Mr. Highfill's life.  They are notorious for taking out life insurance policies on their employees lives, without the knowledge of the employees.  In a letter leaked from their corporate offices, they referred to the policies as 'dead peasant' insurance.  Google it if you don't believe me.