A man who helped his mother-in-law commit suicide by purchasing the equipment she used to kill herself has escaped prison time and has been sentenced to probation instead.

Key Takeaways:

• David Norton was an accomplice in helping his mother-in-law, Mildred Roller, kill herself in 2024.

• Norton helped purchase nitrogen gas and other items — including a plastic tub, gas flow regulator, and a clear bag — which Mildred used to kill herself.

• He pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter by aiding suicide, and one count of tampering with physical evidence as part of a plea deal.

• He was sentenced to two years of probation only, no prison time, and was also ordered to donate to a "medical aid-in-dying charity," meaning he must donate to an organization that helps people commit suicide.

The Backstory:

As Live Action News reported in January, Kim Roller and her brother-in-law, David Norton, were arrested in Colorado for helping Roller's 91-year-old mother, Mildred "Milsy" Roller, kill herself in 2024. The two purchased nitrogen gas and other items — including a plastic tub, gas flow regulator, and a clear bag — which Mildred, who lived in an independent living facility, then used to end her life.

The duo learned how to use the items through the Final Exit Network, an organization that provides information and holds workshops to teach people how to commit suicide.

After their arrest, Kim Roller and Norton were each charged with manslaughter by aiding suicide. Roller was sentenced for her role in the crime in April.

The Details:

On August 14, Norton pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter by aiding suicide and one count of tampering with physical evidence as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to donate to a "medical aid-in-dying charity" — meaning he must donate to an organization that helps people commit suicide.

Shockingly, though Norton's actions directly led to Mildred Roller's death, Boulder County District Court Judge Dea M. Lindsey insinuated that he perhaps shouldn't have been charged at all.

“I go back and forth on whether this should be a charge at all,” Lindsey said prior to sentencing. “I think it’s a philosophical issue.”

Notably, both Kim Roller and Norton stood to profit from Mildred's death, as her will bequeathed her children "equal shares of her estate, which included a savings account with approximately $655,540 in it." Meanwhile, the monthly bill of her living facility was approximately $6,980.

The Bottom Line:

There is never a situation in which it is appropriate to help a person end his or her own life, even if sick or disabled.