Los Angeles police believe that Ervin Antonio Lupoe murdered his wife and five children late on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, before turning the gun on himself.
Lupoe and his wife both had recently lost their jobs at the West Los Angeles Medical Center. Authorities believe that Lupoe roamed the house Monday evening, shooting his wife and each of his children—which included two sets of twins—with a handgun. “This was a financial- and job-related issue that led to the slayings,” Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Kenneth Garner told the L.A. Times. “It’s a grisly scene.”
But details have emerged that indicate that Ervin and his wife, Ana, were not fired due to economy-related cutbacks. They were being investigated for misconduct. Kaiser Permanente confirmed in a statement to the Times the Lupoes were recently terminated from employment at the health network’s West Los Angeles Medical Center.
The letter received at KABC-TV shortly after 8 a.m. said Lupoe and his wife had made a suicide pact. It referred to an investigation into employment misrepresentation in connection with a child care issue. (The probe involved allegations of fraud, according to sources familiar with the inquiry, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the inquiry was ongoing.) Hospital officials declined to provide details, saying only that they were cooperating with investigators and “deeply saddened’ by the deaths.
The letter indicates that a Kaiser supervisor initially suggested Lupoe shoot himself, which Kaiser denies. The letter also claims the hospital did not help the family, “knowing we have no job and five children under 8 years with no place to go.”
“Oh lord, my God,” the letter ended, “is there no hope for a widow’s son?”
Lupoe had been at the West Los Angeles hospital about 10 years, and Ana Lupoe, was a medical technician. “[She was] a sweet lady. Always smiling with everybody,” said Hamlet Narvaez, 40, a Kaiser transportation worker. “[She was] always talking about the kids.”
The tragedy has brought the community together and garnered national headlines. It’s a sad reminder that murder/suicides are not a unique problem reserved for one particular community—but that they can happen—and do happen—anywhere and to anyone. During these difficult times, communication and compassion are the keys to persevering.
– todd williams
