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Woman said she killed mom to go to jail, 'just read books'

By Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 22, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Updated January 22, 2008 at 3:36 p.m.

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Jekowski, 53, is described by her sister as a schizophrenic.

Jekowski, 53, is described by her sister as a schizophrenic.

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An Arvada woman told police she strangled her mother with a rope so that she could go to jail and read books.

Louise Jekowski, 53, called police early Thursday, telling them she had strangled her mother to help her die, according to an arrest affidavit. Jekowski added that she was ready to go to prison for life.

Jekowski, described as schizophrenic by her sister, made repeated "rambling" confessions to police at her Arvada home and at the police station, the affidavit said.

After deciding to kill her mother, she picked out a rope that her father had used for exercising and went upstairs to the bedroom where her mother was sleeping, Jekowski told police.

Ardyce Jekowski, 86, awoke as her daughter entered the room. Louise Jekowski said she hid the rope from her mother, then pulled sheets from around her mother's head and told her she was going to kill her.

Jekowski said her mother's eyes "widened," but she said nothing. Jekowski said she put the rope around her neck and strangled her for 20 minutes to make sure she was dead and not just in a "coma."

She told police "she knew she was going to jail, to where she could then just read books," the affidavit said.

Jekowski also said she wanted to keep her mother from "having to suffer any longer" and that "she did not want to take care of her mother any longer," the affidavit said.

She admitted that she hadn't taken her anti-psychotic medication for the past 24 hours as she should have.

At the end of the interview, Jekowski "described herself as being a bad person. She stated she wanted it all to end," the affidavit said.

Jekowski said she "did not feel bad about killing her mother for her mother's sake, but did feel bad for the rest of the family."

She appeared for advisement in Jefferson County Court Friday and is due back in court Thursday.

Comments

  • January 22, 2008

    7:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LS writes:

    Jekowski, described as schizophrenic by her sister, made repeated "rambling" confessions to police...

    But apparently her sister thought it was okay for the woman to be caring for their elderly and ill mother. WTF?!

  • January 22, 2008

    8:38 a.m.

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    wow writes:

    Seems like the elderly mom probably got left with Jekowsky because she was available, ( schizophrenic and unable to have a job ). The rest of the family should have been taking care of both of them. What is it with people? There is another story mentioning a mother who's now deceased was having her father with Alzhimers(sp) babysit her toddler.

  • January 22, 2008

    9:41 a.m.

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    snowbelly writes:

    There is not much access to bestselling books in pueblo.It's all on the taxpayers dime now.

  • January 22, 2008

    9:55 a.m.

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    HollyGoLightly writes:

    I agree with LS and Wow. Why the hell was this woman left alone with her mother when the family knew she was schizophrenic?

  • January 22, 2008

    10:02 a.m.

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    Francesca writes:

    Floyd, now go take a cold shower, hon. LOL.

  • January 22, 2008

    10:54 a.m.

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    Oh_Wise_One writes:

    Her sentence should be "no books". Make her sit in solitude and then maybe she will know what punishment is.

  • January 22, 2008

    11:05 a.m.

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    Squatch writes:

    Yep! Take her books away and tell her she doesnt get jello either.

  • January 22, 2008

    11:24 a.m.

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    reddog writes:

    Taking care of her elderly mother? You've got to be joking.

  • January 22, 2008

    11:24 a.m.

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    Theoldguy writes:

    What a crock of crap! Insane so she can't be executed. Even premeditated won't do it. Books are provided so that the inmates will have something to do to keep the place quiet so the guards can catch-up on their sleep. Does "FloydHill" anticipate any connubial visits in the future? That's rough! "Snowbelly" is right. This one will be paid for by us. Yuks!!!! Most likely at a high priced asylum in the country along with a college degree. Lots of books and maybe, in time, tenure at CU.

  • January 22, 2008

    11:58 a.m.

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    BMat writes:

    She looks guilty to me!

  • January 22, 2008

    12:14 p.m.

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    Zinnia79 writes:

    Wow. Arvada has really been making a name for itself...shootings at a church, killing at a Burger King and now this crazy lady. I lived in Arvada for over 15 years and have never seen such insanity. I wonder what the world is coming too.

    Louise Jekowski is a lunatic and looks like she's been possessed by the devil. Her family should be ashamed to let her take care of her elderly mother. Rubbish.

  • January 22, 2008

    1:11 p.m.

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    fiesty writes:

    LS- I can tell you why. They didn't want to trouble themselves with an elderly mother, or troubled daughter. Our society, unlike others where the elderly are respected and family paramount, treats its elderly and sick terribly. Especially when it comes to mental illness. Heck, we can't even take care of our veterans. PEOPLE JUST DON'T CARE.

    Let me give you a case in point. My mother is bi-polar and has multiple-personality disorder, in addition to being physically disabled. She was living in FL in the same town as all her family- parents, two sisters, brother, and son. Sounds like she should be taken care of, and supported, right? Wrong. They wouldn't help her get her medication, let some illegals fleece her out of her meager savings, let her starve when she could no longer work, etc. I finally saved up enough from my disability pay so we could move her up here to CO last Apr. Found out we can't even get her insured here in CO due to the idiotic rules where bi-polar is an "automatic" disqualifier, so we are having to pay for everything out of pocket. Her family swore up and down they would help out with expenses, since I am living on disability and my own son is special needs. Do you think we've seen a dime from them? Nope. A phone call to see how she's doing? Nope. As a matter of fact, the household goods they were supposed to send, they "gave" to themselves!

  • January 22, 2008

    1:15 p.m.

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    bookwerm writes:

    Um, I don't see why it is anyones responsibility to look after the mom OR sister. The obligations of care go only one way, from Parent to Child.. this is not spoken or unspoken obligation by the kids to take care of the parents, or siblings for each other. It is the responsibility of the State. The State failed. It failed the mother, It failed the daughter, and It fails almost everyone. We have the WORST care of ANY first world country for those who need help. Really. Sure, if you WANT to help out the sister or mom, fine, that is on you. But obligated? You are smoking something.

  • January 22, 2008

    2:32 p.m.

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    wow writes:

    Responsibility of the state???

    Holy smoke, are you seriously proposing that rather than expecting families to care for their own whenever possible, we should rely on the Government to care for our sick/insane/elderly relatives??
    I'm so flabberghasted I hardly know what to say. I cannot think of a more dismissive, irresponsible, arrogant, blame shifting position one could take. And they call me a liberal. Guess we all have to go to jail now, because as tax payers, it's our fault that our dollars did not go toward supervised Government care for these two.

    Fiesty...We're off the hook...bookwerm wants government to take responsibility for your her, so all the honorable sacrifices you've mistakenly made in the necesity of caring for your mom have been nice and all, but since you were nice enough to volunteer for the obligation, you actually did THE GOVERNMENT a favor. Maybe if you were inclined to ask, the Government could pay you back wages for the time you've spent mistakenly caring for your loved ones before it was determined to be somebody else's problem.
    I was looking at moving my mom,(the woman who gave birth to me, loved me, fed me, clothed and educated me for a lousy 18+ years) in with me to avoid her starving and being taken advantage of, but now, bookwerm has opened my eyes that I can, if I chose, make it some one else's problem. Afterall, I don't owe her crap, and just think of all the energy I'll have left to crab about the government's other numerous failings..
    Sorry to drag you in Feisty, my hat's off to you completely for stepping up to keep your mom with people who love her. I am really looking at doing the same with mine soon, and absolutely will not ever push her off on an uncaring government agency... Comments like that just make me so mad...

  • January 22, 2008

    3:17 p.m.

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    Francesca writes:

    Gee bookwerm, I don't understand your thrust at all. I guess I don't feel "obligated" to want to take care of the woman that gave birth to me, when the time comes that she needs me. Like wow stated - fed, clothed, helped in my education, most importantly showed her love to me. Maybe in your view, we owe each other nothing but I don't consider being raised in a family with a loving mother some sort of debt anyway. Sorry you don't have the same pleasant experience.

    And especially, the last thing I want is for the government to step in and provide care for my loved ones. We've seen in recent news stories what there is to offer via social services and government offerings and I'll pass.

    Definite kudos to feisty for stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing. You rock. I knew I liked you from your comments anyway.

  • January 22, 2008

    3:53 p.m.

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    rutledjw writes:

    I think PMSXpress nailed it. I also can understand bookwerm's point of view, although I think he's wrong. I would assume his point is a practical one based on the realities of our society. If eh really thinks the State should do this and will do it properly, frankly - he's smoking something. There's overwhelming evidence otherwise...

    I would counter that the self-indulgent attitude, to the point of abuse of our parents and family, is an indicator of the state of our society...

  • January 22, 2008

    6:06 p.m.

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    fiesty writes:

    bookwerm is crazy, or definitely made comments that didn't come out right. So, in my case, since my mom "only" gave birth to me, but didn't raise me, I don't really have an obligation right? Or maybe I should feel that obligation is relieved since I'm disabled? Maybe because I'm a disabled vet, the gov't "owes" me? Nope, can't agree.

    PMSXpress- thanks, I only did the right thing, but the kudos really go to my husband. Don't know many men who would marry a disabled vet in a chair, who has a special needs child, and then a few years later, volunteer to bring into the family her disabled mother.

  • January 22, 2008

    7:53 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    notyouravg writes:

    Floydhill & jdub, you are sick puppies and need professional help.
    Fiesty, you moron. your moms family is also your family.
    Bookwerm, you are a cold hearted and totally off base.

  • January 22, 2008

    10:20 p.m.

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    clyde writes:

    Kudos to Feisty!

  • January 22, 2008

    11:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    fiesty writes:

    notyouravg- you obviously didn't catch the sarcasm. As far as I'm concerned, they are NOT my family as I have disowned them because of their selfish and uncaring attitude. However, it's a perfect example of the attitude prevalent here in the US, particularly in regards to the elderly.

    Ah well, you can pick your friends, but are stuck with your family!

    Thanks Clyde, wow, and PMSXpress. But I don't think I deserve any kudos, because it's just the right thing to do, albeit hard.

  • January 23, 2008

    5:22 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    cheech24 writes:

    She's a hottie.

  • January 23, 2008

    5:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    cheech24 writes:

    Seriously, Pace Picante Sauce should leverage this story to revitalize their wildly popular television campaign in the late eighties, into the nineties: "Get A Rope!"