Final Exit: Assisted Suicide and the Threat of Euthanasia in America

In June 2008, a 58-year-old resident of Cumming, Georgia passed away from helium intoxication. Police suspected assisted suicide, and the Georgia Burea of Investigation launched a probe into the Final Exit Network. Today, the GBI's investigation led to the arrests of Atlanta resident Claire Behr, age 76, and a Kennesaw man, 63-year-old Thomas E. Goodwin. Authorities in Maryland also charged two others they believe to be part of the alleged assisted suicide network: Baltimore residents Dr. Lawrence Egbert, age 81 and 60-year-old Nicholas Alec Sheridan. The GBI became involved after Cumming Police and the Forsyth County coroner suspected the unnamed suicide in Cumming had received assistance and relatives found material related to Final Exit in the man's possession. According to Atlanta's ABC affiliate, WSB TV, the arrestees all "have been charged on warrants out of Forsyth County with assisted suicide, tampering with evidence, and violation of the Georgia RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act."