In honor of Mother’s Day this year, three magazines promoted the story of how one son “gifted” his mother with death. And no, it wasn’t a joke. Esquire first published the story, followed by Redbook and Cosmopolitan (all conveniently owned by Hearst Magazines). All three outlets gave the story, written by Alex Schlempp (with Patrick Pacheco), the same headline: “On Mother's Day, My Mom Asked Me to Help End Her Life.” Schlempp detailed his journey to find a way for his mother to commit assisted suicide, and justified his actions by calling it “mercy,” “the right thing” and the “best gift.”
The couple were wed Sept. 8 in an intimate ceremony at their home in Farmington, Conn. The newlyweds spoke to The New York Times in an exclusive interview about their relationship.