August 22, 1986: An abortion-related suicide anniversary

AI illustration by Grok

Carol Cunningham was 21 years old when she underwent an abortion in the late summer of 1986. On August 22, she shut herself up in her garage at her home in Albuquerque, and started her car. She died from breathing the exhaust fumes. Her body was discovered on August 25, 1986.

It's been documented that suicide is more common after abortion than after childbirth, or in the woman who has not experienced pregnancy. (Actually, all forms of violent death are more common in post-abortion women.) A few of the women and girls who took their lives following abortions include:

• Arlin della Cruz, age 19, who hanged herself in the woods near her house in October of 1992
• Laura Grunas, age 30, who shot her baby’s father and then herself in August of 2006
• “Sandra Roe,” age 18, who killed herself using an unidentified means in April of 1971
• Sandra Kaiser, age 15, who threw herself off an overpass into traffic in November of 1984
• Stacy Zallie, age 20, who committed suicide in October of 2002
• "Haley Mason," age 22, who overdosed on pills in April of 2001

The Centers for Disease Control also stumbled across some post-abortion suicide cases in their study of post-abortion mortality. Their stories and others are told on tumblr:

• "Sheila Roe," age unknown, died 1970 or 1971
• "Cathy Roe," age 19, died during the period 1972-1978
• "Jade Roe," age unknown, died during the period 1972-1981, most likely 1973
• "Sylvie Roe," age 22, died 1975

Source: New Mexico Death Certificate #092443