Mum's heartbreaking note before assisted suicide blamed 'predatory' courts
A mum left a heartbreaking note before she was scheduled to die by assisted suicide in Switzerland - blaming her decision on a broken family court system and alleged abuse by her husband.
Catherine Kassenoff, a hardened former federal prosecutor and breast cancer survivor, announced her decision to undergo assisted suicide in Europe after a messy custody battle in what she said was the broken New York family court system.
"It is with a profound heartbreak…that I am writing my last post ever. Today, I will be ending my own life…In the last four years of my life I have woken up every day to a nightmare like no other," she wrote in her public suicide note.
Ms Kassenoff, a mother of three, was involved in a custody dispute with her husband, who is a litigator, for over two years.
The court had granted sole custody to her ex-husband, citing safety concerns, but Catherine claimed the court was biased in favour of her husband and alleged that he was abusive towards her and her daughters.
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The tragic mum couldn't stand not being able to see her own kids (Catherine Youssef Kassenoff)As part of the dispute, photos had emerged showing a potential bias and conflict of interest involving the judge presiding over Catherine's case and the custody evaluator.
Carol Most, the attorney for the children, was then dismissed from the case after Catherine sued her for misconduct.
Despite new information in Catherine's favour, a new forensic evaluator reaffirmed a previous report, leading to Catherine still being unable to see her children.
Allan Kassenoff, Catherine's ex-husband, issued a statement through his attorney, asserting that the court had awarded him sole custody based on safety concerns and that the children were safe and healthy in his care.
Meanwhile, videos surfaced on TikTok claiming to show Catherine's ex-husband's alleged verbal and emotional abuse towards her and their daughters.
Videos on TikTok allegedly showed Allan Kassenoff swearing at Catherine (@therobbieharvey/tiktok)
Catherine said she could not survive the torment (Catherine Youssef Kassenoff)In her heartbreaking suicide note, Ms Kassenoff spoke out about her custody battle and highlighted the predatory nature of the family court system which, in her case, included gag orders, inaccessible court dockets, closed courtrooms, and long-term temporary orders.
She wrote: "I cannot survive this torment and the grief that comes from such a prolonged separation from my children.
"The court system did this to me … It is a predatory system that functions in darkness — through ‘gag orders’ like the one in my case, through a publicly-inaccessible docket, through a closed courtroom, and through ex parte ‘temporary’ orders that are in place for years."
She stated that the court system took away her home, dogs, and life savings, and denied her visits with her three daughters.
The note also included a link to court filings, legal documents, and medical records to support her claims of unfair rulings and bias in the court.
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Ultimately, the tragic woman was diagnosed with terminal cancer and, according to her note, she decided to end her life via assisted suicide.
Although her death has not been confirmed, Wayne Baker, the executor of her estate, said he was awaiting confirmation of her death.
He told Ms Magazine, however, that he strongly believes she “elected to end her life, peacefully with dignity in Switzerland.”
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch.
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