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| ANOTHER CASE OF TWINS IN BIZARRE AND EXTREME BEHAVIOR. Posted November 19, 2010 Colin Andrews |
Survivor of twin sisters' suicide pact will not say why
Reid Sexton and Gerard Wright IN COLORADO
November 20, 2010
AS GRISLY details emerged about what confronted Colorado police at the scene of a failed suicide
pact between 29-year-old Australian twins, the survivor was refusing yesterday to tell police why they
made the agreement.
Police confirmed that the twins, Candice and Kristin Hermeler, had intentionally shot themselves in the
head with .22 calibre pistols at the Family Shooting Centre in Cherry Creek State Park in Denver on
Monday.
Neighbours and teachers described the former students of Methodist Ladies College in Melbourne as
cheerful and extremely close.
Reid Sexton and Gerard Wright IN COLORADO
November 20, 2010
AS GRISLY details emerged about what confronted Colorado police at the scene of a failed suicide
pact between 29-year-old Australian twins, the survivor was refusing yesterday to tell police why they
made the agreement.
Police confirmed that the twins, Candice and Kristin Hermeler, had intentionally shot themselves in the
head with .22 calibre pistols at the Family Shooting Centre in Cherry Creek State Park in Denver on
Monday.
Neighbours and teachers described the former students of Methodist Ladies College in Melbourne as
cheerful and extremely close.
Court documents yesterday showed that when police arrived at the outdoor range a staff member was
performing chest compressions on one of the women, who was on her back. She was later
pronounced dead at the scene.
The documents said the second woman was sitting with blood in her hair and on the back of her head.
It was then that a police officer noticed a gunshot wound in the middle of her forehead.
The woman was well enough yesterday to be interviewed by police in hospital for two hours but she
would not say why she and her sister had entered into the bizarre pact.
Captain Louie Perea, a spokesman for the Arapahoe County sheriff's office, would not reveal which
twin he believed survived and which had died. He said the survivor confirmed she had entered into a
suicide pact with her sister but would not say why.
performing chest compressions on one of the women, who was on her back. She was later
pronounced dead at the scene.
The documents said the second woman was sitting with blood in her hair and on the back of her head.
It was then that a police officer noticed a gunshot wound in the middle of her forehead.
The woman was well enough yesterday to be interviewed by police in hospital for two hours but she
would not say why she and her sister had entered into the bizarre pact.
Captain Louie Perea, a spokesman for the Arapahoe County sheriff's office, would not reveal which
twin he believed survived and which had died. He said the survivor confirmed she had entered into a
suicide pact with her sister but would not say why.
''We asked that on more than one occasion and she declined to answer that question,'' he told the
Herald. ''She was emotional. She was … agitated, frustrated, basically ran the entire gamut of
emotion.''
Police are still waiting to receive copies of the women's fingerprints from US immigration officials but
said the survivor had finally identified herself to police, potentially ending her parents' wait to learn
which of their daughters had died.
The women were in the Denver area for more than a month and had taken gun lessons before the
incident at the range.
Workers there said they had had their hair done and were wearing make-up before the shooting.
Matthew Maruff, the principal of their former school, Girton Grammar in Bendigo, said: ''They worked
hard in their classes and had good prospects in their studies.
''The Hermelers were a close family … their parents were very caring and supportive of them.''
It is believed Candice attended the prestigious University of North Carolina.
Jacqueline Sole, the twins' second cousin, said the twins loved travelling and ''didn't lack for anything''
when they were growing up.
Ernest Hermeler and his wife Kelsay were believed to be travelling to the US yesterday.
Candice and Kristin Hermeler are believed to have entered the US on cultural exchange visas but
Arapahoe County police do not know who sponsored them or where they worked or trained, which is a
requirement for the terms of the visas.
with AAP
For help or information visit beyondblue.org.au, call Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651
251, or Lifeline on 131 114.
Herald. ''She was emotional. She was … agitated, frustrated, basically ran the entire gamut of
emotion.''
Police are still waiting to receive copies of the women's fingerprints from US immigration officials but
said the survivor had finally identified herself to police, potentially ending her parents' wait to learn
which of their daughters had died.
The women were in the Denver area for more than a month and had taken gun lessons before the
incident at the range.
Workers there said they had had their hair done and were wearing make-up before the shooting.
Matthew Maruff, the principal of their former school, Girton Grammar in Bendigo, said: ''They worked
hard in their classes and had good prospects in their studies.
''The Hermelers were a close family … their parents were very caring and supportive of them.''
It is believed Candice attended the prestigious University of North Carolina.
Jacqueline Sole, the twins' second cousin, said the twins loved travelling and ''didn't lack for anything''
when they were growing up.
Ernest Hermeler and his wife Kelsay were believed to be travelling to the US yesterday.
Candice and Kristin Hermeler are believed to have entered the US on cultural exchange visas but
Arapahoe County police do not know who sponsored them or where they worked or trained, which is a
requirement for the terms of the visas.
with AAP
For help or information visit beyondblue.org.au, call Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651
251, or Lifeline on 131 114.
| Kristin and Candice Hermeler |
| Television news report following the police news conference and original story - select image. |
Shooters head to the range at the outdoor shooting range at Cherry Creek State
Park in Denver, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010. Authorities are trying to
determine how twin sisters from Australia were both shot in the head at the
range on Monday and which sister died and which is critically injured.
Read more:
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/11/18/1531083/investigators-twin-shooting-was.html#ixzz15krzw8aO
Park in Denver, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010. Authorities are trying to
determine how twin sisters from Australia were both shot in the head at the
range on Monday and which sister died and which is critically injured.
Read more:
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/11/18/1531083/investigators-twin-shooting-was.html#ixzz15krzw8aO
This bizarre case has striking similarities to twins dual with death on the M6 motorway in England. HERE
| Flash Back to another bizarre |