Man Kills Wife for Changing Facebook Status to 'Single'
We've seen some bizarre Facebook stories in the past, and have warned you on how information on the site can cause people to lose their jobs, but we've never heard a story quite as sad as this. According to the BBC and the Stafford Crown Court, 41-year-old Edward Richardson of Staffordshire, England, killed his estranged 26-year-old wife, Sarah, after she changed her Facebook status to "single."Facebook allows users to indicate their relationship status and what they're looking for (romantic relationships, friendships, etc.). The couple had already separated, and Sarah, a hairdresser, had apparently already given up hope of reconciliation. She changed her status to single on her profile, an act that enraged Edward. After receiving a barrage of angry calls and text messages from her estranged husband, Sarah stopped responding.
| Yes | |
|---|---|
| No | |
| I'm not sure |
Rather than stop Edward, however, it drove him to extreme violence. According to government prosecutors, on May 12 of 2008, Edward went to Sarah's home, broke down the door, and stabbed her to death. He's been sentenced to life in prison. [From: BBC News]
Related Links:
- Your Facebook or MySpace Profile Could Cost You Your Job
- Politician Posts Nude Shower Pics on Her Facebook Page
- Gangsters Finding Fans on Facebook





Rookie Cop Reportedly Berated, Called 'A Rat' For Arresting Off-Duty Officer
Walmart Ending Membership in Conservative Group
Rodents Run Amok at Upstate New York Walmart
Apple CEO Tim Cook interview at D10: the liveblog
Disney World Scammers Scored Four Years of Free Vacations
How I Went Bankrupt at 23
Can a New Guy Save Best Buy?
Woman Claims Kangaroo Stalked Her for 2 Days, Then Attacked
Stranger's Kiss Keeps 16-Year-Old From Committing Suicide
Beyonce 60-Pound Weight Loss: Queen B Flaunts New Figure During Comeback Concert Series














Comments
176
Subscribe to commentsjONJan 27th 2009 6:12PM
Nobody has a right to take another's life unless their life or property is being threatened in a violent way. I suppose the simplest things can be the most complex. It is a simple thing to respect the freedom of another and move on with one's life. Yes, this hurts very much, but as an adult you just know that you must move on. I do not understand why some men and women want to ruin or let another person ruin their lives. Maybe it is because we need immediate gratification romance and too many haven't experienced a healthy male/female friendship that turns to a deeper love or an introduction to someone who is healthy for a good friend. Too much waste of life in this world.
SMRTNUPJan 27th 2009 6:06PM
EVERYBODY !!! . . . LISTEN !!! . . .
A break-up ( especially of a relationship which has been sexual in nature ), is a highly emotional event !!! . . . Even stable, sensitive, rational, logical thinkers can become JUST THE OPPOSITE temporarily during a break-up. Anyone who initiates the break-up needs to take heed. . . Do it in a HUMANE way. . . Be sensitive ! . . NOT belittling, demeaning, or degrading. . . Be encouraging and complimentary . . . EVEN IF YOU'RE ANGRY !!! . . By controlling YOUR attitude you might save your own life or that of others close to you. . . This is a sad thing but in some cases, . . Clearly, . . It's true. . . For men and women alike ! . . .
Good luck to you all !!!
. . .
rcottJan 27th 2009 6:18PM
Anybody wonder why this woman wanted to be divorced from this lunatic? It would be nice to know whether she was abused by him prior to their separation, and whether she ever reported it. I'm guessing she didn't report, but was physically and emotionally abused. The lesson here...if you're in an abusive relationship, make sure you leave a paper trail. Report the incidents to hospitals, police, get photos of bruises, etc., and leave all the evidence with someone or in a safe deposit box. However, provoking a lunatic like this is not a real good idea, either. Move the hell out of town, and get a roommate and good alarm system. You deserve to be safe, but you're going to have to do some of those things for yourself, not just depend on "authorities" to do it for you.
GaryJan 27th 2009 6:32PM
"Why should the taxpayers pay for this monster's food, water, ac, healthcare?".............Because it's in England. -- They are a socialist country in every way except name. Meaning, they have to pay for everyone, no matter what. In for a penny, in for a pound, they always say. Besides, they still have to figure out how to electrocute the condemned using solar panels. Once they get that figured out, maybe they will - once they get enough sunshine to actually charge a solar panel, that is.
MacDaddyJan 27th 2009 6:41PM
I keep saying it and I keep getting the same B.S= nobody ask for it bla bla, If you put your life on the Internet for the whole world to see , your ASKING for it !
BethJan 27th 2009 7:11PM
This just bolsters the case for NOT having a Facebook page. Only people desperate for attention need to brag their business to the rest of the world.
BarbaraJan 27th 2009 7:28PM
Killing this man, while at first look, may seem the thing to do , what you all need to remember is once hes dead ...hes just that ...DEAD. In my mind , keeping this man imprisioned is a much more well deserved punishment, It sounds like he just snapped , when everything wears itself down..He will have the rest of his life to regret, and feel guilty about this horrible crime ....God bless her family ...they will remain in my prayers ...
jennaJan 27th 2009 9:25PM
It's a sad story ..Sympathy to her family and friends.
The mind is a very fragile thing as is....now throw a break up into the pot ....add some insults and and something degrading by the person that supposedly LOVED you .....MAKE it PUBLIC so it's got more of an impact on the person you want to hurt----and you get ,what you get !
Had she been abused -wouldn't it have been better NOT TO egg the Ahole on???????
blablablaJan 28th 2009 7:12PM
Under "Sharia Law".....I'm guessing this guy would get some kind of award.....membership in a dating service or something.....
RyanJan 30th 2009 12:23AM
You guys are taking the bait thinking he killed this girl just because with the click of a mouse she changed her facebook status
This is the media hyping the facebook thing knowing how popular facebook is and the atention the story will gain by mentioning FACEBOOK
This couple obviously had serious relationship troubles and the guy was a sicko...im sure if she broke up with him he still would have killed her no matter what her facebook status was set at
its not like everyrhing was great in the relationship and she changed her facebook status and he instantly turned into a monster and killed her..get real..the media sucks
andiefoxFeb 3rd 2009 11:22AM
whell if you are online dating then online breaking up makes sense! specially if yous never seen dem b4 ; ))
SJ CynicFeb 11th 2009 11:13PM
You see? It's not the weapon, but the person wielding it that causes the problem. Obviously, banning gun ownership in the UK doesn't prevent violence or murder. So, the guns aren't to blame - the people are.
DeepakFeb 15th 2009 10:00PM
Face book is not the only place that reveals these type of people. There are alot of people out there like this. These people are everyone you go, to work,restaurant, movies, church, and schools. Twenty-nine years ago, I worked with a murdered woman, who I was the last to see her alive. She went to lunch with her husband and he killed her. She wanted to leave him, but never discussed her person life at work. We found this out after she was found, strangled in a parking garage. Her family came foward telling the newspapers that the woman wanted out of the marriage. Look around you and pay attention to your surroundings. The life you save may be your own.
thefuzz61Feb 24th 2009 4:40PM
there is a LOT more to this mans mental state, than his wife only changing her name to single..there had to have been many, many issues with him..like abusive to start..
TammyFeb 24th 2009 5:45PM
What is this world coming too when we now not only cheat and lie by going out and looking for it but do it on the internet right under the same roof as our spouses whom we claimed to love and honor and not betray. I am so tired of of the lack of morality today I don't know what to tell my own kids about love and fidelity so that their little hearts are not broken someday by all this internet crap! My husband is a full blown sex addict and has hurt people on the internet in his little con-artist games, using and abusing women, taking money from them and worst of all hurt his family and kids in deplorable ways. It all stemmed from an addiction to the stupid internet. Think about it, your choosing an appliance over real life and real people and this has really spun out of control for so many people. We wonder why the divorce rate has climbed so high, temptation is something we fight everyday, but, dangle it in our faces everday on the internet, who do you think will win?
LorettaMar 25th 2009 8:55PM
I think it depends on the situation and the person. If you think the person could or would be violent then by all means let them know over facebook plus see about getting a restraining order. If the person however is not that type then you need to day face to face.
It is so totally on the situation