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Bernie and I Attempted Suicide: Ruth Madoff

She says she and Bernie tried to kill themselves after story broke

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 26, 2011 5:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – Ruth Madoff makes a jarring admission to 60 Minutes, saying she and husband Bernie attempted suicide with pills after his Ponzi scheme unraveled, reports CBS News. "I don't know whose idea it was, but we decided to kill ourselves because it was so horrendous what was happening," she tells Morley Safer. "We had terrible phone calls. Hate mail, just beyond anything and I said, '...I just can't go on anymore.'"

They first sent a package to son Andrew filled with sentimental items, then swallowed a bunch of pills, including Ambien. It was Christmas Eve, but they lived to see Christmas Day. "We took pills and woke up the next day," she says. "It was very impulsive and I am glad we woke up." Andrew also is interviewed in this Sunday's show, and he says his mother told him of the attempt three years after the fact when he asked about that package. Another son, Mark, hanged himself last year.

Ruth Madoff talks to Morley Safer of '60 Minutes.' (AP Photo/60 Minutes)

Andrew Madoff, son of Bernard Madoff, talks to “60 Minutes” correspondent Morley Safer. (AP Photo/60 Minutes)

Bernie Madoff in a 2009 file photo. (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson, file)

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Bernie and I Attempted Suicide: Ruth Madoff

She says she and Bernie tried to kill themselves after story broke

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