Robert Schwartz Murdered by Daughter: A Tragic Case of Mental Health and Violence

The case of Robert Schwartz, a 74-year-old great aunt who was murdered by her own granddaughter Tiffany Burney in 2011, is a heart-wrenching example of the devastating consequences of untreated mental health issues. Burney, then 23 years old, had a history of psychiatric problems and had previously been institutionalized for treatment. Despite receiving treatment at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino County, she was released back into society without proper care or supervision.

On December 14, 2011, Burney fatally shot her great aunt, Daisy Mae Hayes, at the Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health System in La Mesa. She then pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison. However, instead of receiving continued treatment, she was sent back to San Diego to face a possible life sentence.

The case is eerily reminiscent of another tragic event that occurred just months earlier. On September 19, 1986, Lorenza Delgadillo Penguelly, the mother of three children, drowned her 5-month-old daughter Sharai by throwing her into San Diego Bay. Penguelly had a history of mental illness and had been institutionalized multiple times for treatment. Despite having medication for schizophrenia, she often failed to take it as prescribed.

In another disturbing incident, on October 7, 2011, Penguelly stabbed her 86-year-old mother Elvira Delgadillo eight times in the face in an unprovoked attack. Family members claimed that Penguelly had been struggling with her mental health for years and that her illness had become increasingly pronounced in recent months.

The cases of Tiffany Burney and Lorenza Delgadillo Penguelly highlight the devastating consequences of untreated mental health issues and the importance of implementing effective treatment programs and laws to prevent such tragedies from occurring. For example, Laura's Law, which aims to provide support and treatment for individuals with serious mental illness, could have potentially prevented some of these incidents.

In conclusion, the murder of Robert Schwartz by his own granddaughter serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved mental health care and support systems in our society. By providing access to effective treatment programs and laws that hold individuals accountable, we can work towards reducing the risk of such tragedies occurring in the future.

Robert schwartz murdered by daughter