Frances Vasile
Not forgotten.
24 November 1969 - 11 January 1976
...A Bronx police officer killed herself last night with her cop fiance's gun in a City Island house the couple was fixing up to move into, police said... The gun belonged to Robert O'Keeffe, a 10-year veteran who worked with Vasile in the 48th Precinct and was engaged to her... Cops have not been able to interview the distraught O'Keeffe to determine how Vasile got his gun...
BRONX OFFICER DIES IN APPARENT SUICIDE
New York Times
Published: January 12, 1996
[Excerpts] An off-duty police officer died last night in the Bronx of a gunshot wound to the head, which the police said appeared to be suicide. The shooting occurred at 6:40 P.M. inside a private residence on City Island, said Officer John Hickey, a police spokesman... It was not clear last night whether she was alone at the time of the shooting... [Redacted], neighbors on Ditmars Street, said the woman and a man were renovating the house, but did not live there. "It's a real shock... We had so much fun together. We were together with them just last night"...
BRONX COP KILLS HERSELF
New York Daily News
January 12th 1996, 1:95AM
[Excerpts] A Bronx police officer killed herself last night with her cop fiance's gun in a City Island house the couple was fixing up to move into, police said. Frances Vasile, 26, a beat cop, was found dead at 6:45 p.m., her hand clutching the off-duty revolver as it lay on her chest. The gun belonged to Robert O'Keeffe, a 10-year veteran who worked with Vasile in the 48th Precinct and was engaged to her, police said... According to property records, the couple bought the house on Ditmars St. a little more than two months ago. "There is no indication why she did this," said Deputy Inspector James Campbell. But high-level police sources, who asked not to be identified, said Vasile was consumed with jealousy, though they could not say what prompted it. Campbell said both officers worked the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. shift yesterday and drove home together... Police sources said there was no argument. Vasile simply sat down on the couch in the living room. "And then she says she is going to kill herself," a police source said... Cops have not been able to interview the distraught O'Keeffe to determine how Vasile got his gun. O'Keeffe was taken to Jacobi Hospital for trauma counseling.
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety lethal fatality fatalities said alleged suicide nypd new york state politics unsolved unresolved police department cop on cop]
THIS IS SO SAD TO HEAR EVERYTIME AND IT DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER. SUICIDE SHOULD NOT BE AN OPTION. PLEASE SEEK HELP TAK TO SOMEONE REACH OUT. THERE IS PLENTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY OF HELP OUT THERE. POPPA EMD ECT. PLEASE
ReplyDeleteRIP
ReplyDeleteDoes she have people? I'm scouring the news archive library database and haven'tt found any more. Do her people accept this telling of what happened?
ReplyDeleteNope!!
DeleteThat's good to know. Truth only comes to full light when the family sues on some premise in order to flush all the information out into the open, gather depositions, etc. But I have encountered a lot of families, and it varies on what they are up against and what they have the energy to do after something this heinous.
DeleteI wasn't there. I don't know. I'm only asking.
ReplyDeleteI'm her sister
ReplyDeleteHi. I'm so sorry about the loss of your sister this way. Part of the reason I was wondering about family is that this, an officer's wife or girlfriend being said to have shot herself happens SO OFTEN and enough officers are discovered to have staged it, that I was wondering if you or other in family do or don't believe that Frances took her own life. I always doubt it but I understand that women ARE capable of suicide so I never assume or blame anyone unless I actually know.
DeleteAnother reason is that I'd like to more about her as a person instead of just a news story about a death. You being her sister could probably share that best. If you'd like to post here that's fine or to send it to me directly is fine too. No one should be forgotten and if there are questions or explanations I'd like to preserve those too. Your sister was so much more than a shooting victim yet that's all people know.
Hugs
Cloud
cloudwriter@gmail.com
This is Frances' sister, but who are you?
DeleteMy email address is there in my last reply to your message if you would like to correspond with me.
ReplyDeleteI was a Police Officer in the 48 when Frances was there. She was absolutely one of the sweetest, kindest people anyone would ever hope to meet. I personally cannot accept that she did this to herself.
ReplyDelete