Family Suicide Pact Goes Horribly Wrong...Dad Just Wouldn't Die

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Man Faces Manslaughter Charge After Suicide Pact Goes Wrong

Centennial, Colorado - A man is facing a manslaughter charge after he allegedly made a suicide pact with his family that didn't go as planned. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson called it a very unusual tragedy.

It began last Saturday night inside the Effland home on South Eudora Way in Centennial.

That night, the sheriff says Phillip Effland made a deal with his wife Denise and daughter, Brenna, to commit suicide. The family swallowed handfuls of prescription medicines. But early Sunday morning, Philip woke up from the drug overdose. His daughter was dead. But Philip discovered his wife was alive. So the sheriff says Philip grabbed his small caliber handgun, shot his wife and then took more drugs, hoping to kill himself. But once again, he survived.

Another daughter who lives elsewhere grew worried when she couldn't reach her family. She called deputies on Monday morning, according to neighbors. When deputies arrived at the house, they saw Phillip moving around inside, so they broke into the home. They found the bodies of two women.

Phillip, 57, barricaded himself in a bedroom. Deputies evacuated the neighborhood while they encouraged Phillip to give up. After 20 minutes, Phillip came out of the bedroom, unarmed.

Deputies found three suicide notes which appear to be written by Phillip, Denise and Brenna. They were not addressed to anyone in particular, said Sheriff Robinson, but rather more like "To whom it may concern." The sheriff said the notes cited three reasons for the suicides; health issues, financial troubles and eviction. Neighbors say Phillip was unemployed, suffered a back disability and that Brenna was bi-polar. The family was also being evicted from their home for not paying rent.

The family has a history with the sheriff's department. Deputies answered calls from the home nearly 30 times in the last five years, including three calls for suicide attempts by the daughter, Brenna.

Phillip Effland faces a manslaughter charge in the death of his wife. He is being held without bond.

Sheriff Robinson said this was a complex case and said his department and the medical examiner's office have worked hard over the last week to discover the truth inside the Effland home.