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Ex-Nurse Jailed for Urging Suicide on Web

Suicide-obsessed man enjoyed the 'thrill of the chase'

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 5, 2011 12:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – A former nurse in Minnesota who persuaded at least two people he met online to commit suicide has been sentenced to 360 days in jail. William Melchert-Dinkel, 48, posed as a female nurse in chat rooms and was found guilty earlier this year of aiding the suicides of a Canadian woman and an English man, the BBC reports. Melchert-Dinkel acknowledged entering suicide pacts he never intended to keep with 10 people, five of whom he believes killed themselves.

Melchert-Dinkel was obsessed with suicide and loved the "thrill of the chase," prosecutors said. The judge ordered him to spend an initial 320 days in jail now and return to prison for two-day spells on the anniversaries of the two victims' deaths for the next 10 years. Melchert-Dinkel offered a statement in which he said he was filled with remorse, although his lawyers says he plans to appeal the sentence on free speech ground.

Nadia Kajouji,  18, of Brampton, Ontario, committed suicide after being encouraged to do so by William Melchert-Dinkel. He will have to return to jail for 2 days on the anniversary of her death.
Nadia Kajouji, 18, of Brampton, Ontario, committed suicide after being encouraged to do so by William Melchert-Dinkel. He will have to return to jail for 2 days on the anniversary of her death.   (AP Photo, File)
William Melchert-Dinkel, center, leaves the Rice County Courthouse in Faribault, Minn., earlier this year.
William Melchert-Dinkel, center, leaves the Rice County Courthouse in Faribault, Minn., earlier this year.   (AP Photo/Robb Long, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Hako
May 5, 2011 8:19 AM CDT
I hope he will get the same encouragement to do something desperate when he is in jail.
zdaydream
May 5, 2011 7:23 AM CDT
William, I have some GOP members I want you to get close to. <:-)
bewilderbeast
May 5, 2011 5:01 AM CDT
"I'm filled with remorse but I don't think I'm guilty" - is that what you're saying?

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