Sometimes life delivers a zinger that shocks us to the core and makes us question life.
Peace officers are sworn to protect and keep others safe, even risking their own life for the lives of others. They are not supposed to murder their wife and mother of their children and then orphan the kids by shooting himself.
Especially not in small towns like the beautiful and tranquil Hughson where high home prices reflect the desirability of living there. Neighbors have barbecues and attend games together, not gasp at the sight of bodies being wheeled out on stretchers – but such was the case on Sunday morning, May 4 on Fontana Ranch Road.
As of this writing, no information has been released as to who shot whom but I think we have a good idea who the victim was judging by how the community had a vigil for Dinella Madrigal and not for husband Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Detective Daniel Hutsell.
What this episode tells us is that people snap and often without warning to the outside world. Do we now have to question the mental fitness of all of our police officers?
It makes us wonder if police need to undergo psychological evaluations beyond the time before being hired.
I am not privy to what was occurring in Daniel Hutsell’s world or marriage but something had to be festering for a time to snap like he allegedly did. He obviously wasn’t thinking of protecting his two precious little girls from the traumatic consequences of his actions that will affect them the rest of their lives.
Some close to the couple may know what was going on between them. That information may or may not be released.
According to a 2024 article by Jessica Dockstader and Daniel Lawrence, titled, “What suicide data for public safety officers tells us,” 60 percent of officers who died by suicide were known to be experiencing some life challenges. The most prevalent of these challenges was depression, affecting 34 percent of those officers who died by suicide. It was followed by PTSD, reported among 27 percent of officers.
Despite the majority of this group experiencing adversity, only 23 percent were reported to be seeking any kind of help.
The inescapable conclusion to this very tragic story and that is we live in a fallen world where scary and inexplicable things happen that often question our senses. The reality is that murders and suicides happen far too often and less commonly murder-suicides.
Mental health is a real issue in our world. Social media and life’s day-to-day pressures help send some over the edge and they feel there is no option other than the drastic. Resources are available for those who are in the throes of depression and contemplating suicide. But it requires seeking help which can be obtained by dialing three numbers – 988.
If you know someone who is suicidal, you might feel unsure of what to do, but there are lots of things that might help:
• Encourage them to talk about their feelings;
• Encourage them to seek treatment and support;
• Offer emotional support;
• Offer practical support;
• Help them think of ideas for self-help;
•Help them to make a support plan;
The main aspect of supporting someone through this is compassion, listening and most importantly not over-reacting or becoming upset. Remaining calm and talking the situation through is extremely important.
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Another reaction to the mayor of Ceres throwing his hat in the ring to run for Congress: Nona Yurbiz posted this on social media: “Ditching the office for which you have just been elected to move on to ‘bigger and better’ things is a huge red flag. The person elected will hold the fate of voters in his hand and this man cannot keep his word to those that just elected him. We have enough bad agents representing us, why add a non-trustworthy person to the mix? That’s up to the voters. Plus, I do not care for the way he insults people online, verbally. I am a registered red voter and am not voting for him based on Scripture to show yourself approved, keeping your word, etc. I wish him the best on a personal level but my vote will remain blank if you have settled on him.”
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Between the time I wrote my last column blasting Sacramento Democrats for voting against Assembly Bill 379 –a bill that would have made it a felony to buy sex from or traffic 16- and 17-year-old minors – and the time it went to press on Tuesday of last week, they reversed course.
The Democrats realized they went too far and stepped into the biggest, messiest pile of dog increment and had it all over their shoes. Assemblyman Nick Schultz of Burbank faced hundreds of angry constituents at his town hall meeting after his committee helped kill the bill. He was whistling a different tune after that.
The public outcry made them flip.
That’s the problem. Many Democrat legislators are not guided by moral principles. They didn’t have the desire within themselves to punish child sex traffickers but only until they saw the public’s reaction were they willing to reluctantly vote for the bill.
Democrats didn’t think it should be a felony to buy sex with 16- and 17-year-olds so they killed the bill. The same folks who scream and cry about slavery dating back to the Civil War and forcing people who were never slave owners (the taxpayers) to pay to black folks who were never slaves apparently had no issue with the modern-day sex slave trade.
They have no business in office.
To show their true colors, the California Democratic Party told a huge defamatory lie about conservative Carl DeMaio, who delivered an impassioned speech for AB 379, saying he voted against the bill. Talk about demonic tactics. The Democrats think the public is so out of touch with things that a lie would stick. Deplorable, sickened and it needs to be punished by voters – that’s if the public is paying attention.
DeMaio happens to lead Reform California, a group fighting against the Democrats’ insanity and are thus targeting to unseat five Democrats in “unsafe” districts who voted against AB 379. They are Corey Jackson, Pilar Schiavo, Esmeralda Soria, Cottie Petrie-Norris and Darshana Patel.
Within 18 hours of putting out the call from Reform California, the Democrats on the committee retreated and the bill passed to go onto a floor vote.
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Want to hear more about what state lawmakers are up to?
AB 413 was passed quietly last year with proponents saying it was about public safety. It calls for a $117 fine for a new “daylighting” rule
The city of San Diego is on track to raise $3 million by issuing 4,200 tickets in a 30-day period.
What is the “daylighting” law? Ab 413 prohibits any driver from stopping, standing or parking within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk or within 15 feet where a curb extension is present. Never mind if the curb isn’t painted red or not enough of the curb is painted red, you may get a ticket and not even see it coming.
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Many of you may know I am interested in history. It gives us a picture of how life was many years ago and how things have changed. Take for example some news stories that I came across from 1925 – a century ago!
Jan. 9, 1925 – Jimmy Morrison, head of the Stanislaus branch of Highway Patrol, will lead a group of 26 traffic officers to witness the hanging of a man who shot a traffic officer near Madera in 1923.
Imagine such swift justice and by hanging. Think you’d ever see that today?
Feb. 13, 1925 – There were 15,318 automobiles registered in the county in 1924, one for every four persons. Stanislaus ranks fifteenth in registrations among the 58 counties.
I checked the DMV website and it’s estimated that 525,394 vehicles were registered in Stanislaus County in 2024, or over one vehicle per every resident. Stanislaus County, by the way, has an estimated 564,404 residents now.
Oct. 28, 1925 – Parents of a boy who had just been thrashed by principal at Hart Ransom are fined $5 each by Justice of the Peace W.H. Rice for insulting and upbraiding a teacher in the presence of the boy who was expelled for the term.
My how far we haven’t come as a society. Today you have parents cussing out school officials.
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My brother told me of an acquaintance of his living in Oakdale whose bank account had been cleared of $1 million! It’s suspected he unwittingly gave out information which allowed thieves to electronically rob him.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that Americans over 60 lost over $4.8 billion to scams in 2024 — a 43% increase from the previous year. The average loss per senior victim was $83,000.
Seniors should not be so gullible.
Some of the common elder fraud schemes include:
• Tech support scam: Criminals pose as technology support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues. The scammers gain remote access to victims’ devices and sensitive information and charge a fee.
• Romance: Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites to capitalize on their elderly victims’ desire to find companions.
• Grandparent scam: A type of confidence scam where criminals pose as a relative — usually a child or grandchild — claiming to be in financial distress.
• Government impersonation scam: Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they agree to provide funds or other payments.
• Sweepstakes/charity/lottery scam: Criminals claim to work for legitimate charitable organizations to gain victims’ trust. Or they claim their targets have won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes, which they can collect for a “fee.”
• Home repair scam: Criminals appear in person and charge homeowners in advance for home improvement services that are never provided.
Many individuals who are duped do not report the incident, which makes it harder to stop these scams. Seniors who sense a scam or have been tricked into giving money to a person or entity they realize is a fraud, should immediately contact local police department and report it.
This column is the opinion of Jeff Benziger, and does not necessarily represent the opinion of The Ceres Courier or 209 Multimedia Corporation. How do you feel about this? Let Jeff know at jeffb@cerescourier.com
