Vasai Horror: 80-Year-Old Man Kills Wife, Attempts Suicide in Shocking Crime

Vasai (Palghar District), Maharashtra, September 9, 2025 — A shocking incident unfolded in Vasai on September 7, 2025, when an 80-year-old man allegedly slit the throat of his 74-year-old wife before attempting to end his own life with the same knife. The woman died instantly, while the accused survived and is currently receiving treatment in hospital, police confirmed.

Family Discovers Crime Scene

According to police, the couple’s son and daughter-in-law had stepped out, leaving the two elderly members alone at home. Upon returning that evening, they found the door locked from inside.

After forcing it open, they discovered the wife lying in a pool of blood and the husband gravely injured. The woman was declared dead at the scene, while the husband was rushed to a local hospital, where his condition has stabilized.

Case Registered Under Murder

Authorities have registered a case of murder against the husband under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. Investigators revealed that both husband and wife had been suffering from chronic illnesses and may have felt like a burden on their family. This perception, combined with health-related despair, is suspected to have triggered the act.

Elderly Homicide-Suicide: A Wider Concern

Criminologists warn that such cases are not isolated. A study titled “Elderly Homicide–Suicide: An Emerging Public Health Concern” mentioned that illness, caregiving strain, and depression often converge to create conditions where elderly individuals see no alternative but to end both lives. ¹

Similar cases have been documented globally, with a pattern of long-term illness and dependency emerging as common triggers.

Psychological Burden in Elderly Couples

The emotional toll of caregiving is well-documented. The paper “The Balance of Give and Take in Caregiver–Partner Relationships” mentioned that perceived burden not only increases depressive symptoms but also disrupts the sense of equality within relationships, heightening vulnerability to extreme decisions. ²

Another study, “Suicide in Later Life: Challenges and Priorities for Prevention,” mentioned that late-life suicides are strongly linked to untreated depression, social isolation, and the loss of independence. ³

Experts argue that when both partners are unwell, hopelessness can reinforce itself, leading to catastrophic outcomes.

Need for Stronger Elder Care Systems

This Vasai case highlights gaps in India’s elder-care framework. Experts recommend accessible counseling services, support groups for caregivers, and targeted mental health interventions for seniors. Families, too, need awareness of how dependency and illness can psychologically burden aging parents.

The research paper “Elderly Suicide and Social Support: The Role of Family and Community” mentioned that inadequate social support and caregiver strain significantly increase the risk of depression and suicidal behavior among older adults. ⁴

Without systemic support, experts warn, health-related despair among the elderly may continue to manifest in tragedies similar to Vasai.

References:

1. Cohen, Daniel, et al. “Elderly Homicide–Suicide: An Emerging Public Health Concern.” Journal of Aging Studies 28, no. 3 (2014): 56–63. Cohen, Daniel, et al. “Elderly Homicide–Suicide: An Emerging Public Health Concern.” Journal of Aging Studies 28, no. 3 (2014): 56–63. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890406514000085?via%3Dihub

2. McPherson, Catherine J., Harvey J. Wilson, and Margaret B. Murray. “The Balance of Give and Take in Caregiver–Partner Relationships: An Examination of Self-Perceived Burden, Relationship Equity, and Quality of Life.” Journal of Health Psychology 12, no. 3 (2007): 465–74. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105307076238

3. Conwell, Yeates. “Suicide Later in Life: Challenges and Priorities for Prevention.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 47, no. 3, Supplement 2 (September 2014): S244–S250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2014.05.040.

4. Choi, Namkee G., and Nancy C. Mayer. “Elderly Suicide and Social Support: The Role of Family and Community.” The Gerontologist 51, no. 1 (2011): 45–57. https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-abstract/50/5/NP/562356?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false

(Rh/Eth/ARC/MSM)