In a tragic and deeply emotional case, a Utah man has pleaded guilty to attempted manslaughter after trying to end the life of his terminally ill wife in what he claims was an act of mercy. DeWayne McCulla, 46, admitted in court on Thursday that he tried to choke his wife, Arenda McCulla, in front of family members in an effort to “ease her suffering” as she endured the final stages of terminal cancer.
This case raises complex questions about love, suffering, and the heart-wrenching decisions families must sometimes face when a loved one is battling a terminal illness. For conservatives who believe in the sanctity of life, this story is both a moral challenge and a cautionary tale about the dangers of emotionally charged, desperate actions.
Arenda McCulla, 47, was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer, in 2020. By late 2021, the cancer had spread to her neck, brain, lungs, and liver, and she was given a terminal diagnosis. Despite undergoing multiple rounds of radiation in a valiant fight, her condition worsened, and she was placed in hospice care at the family’s home in La Verkin, a small town in southwest Utah.
Arenda’s suffering was immense. According to a GoFundMe page set up by her son, Anthony Ryder, Arenda’s condition had deteriorated to the point where she endured “radiation burns that caused open sores and blisters in her throat,” making it impossible for her to eat. The family was watching their loved one wither away, powerless to stop the relentless progression of the disease.
It was in this heartbreaking context that DeWayne made the devastating decision to try to end his wife’s life. On December 20, 2021, with six family members present, DeWayne began choking his wife as she lay in hospice care. Family members were forced to pull him away as Arenda gasped for air, according to court documents.
Though Arenda survived the attempted choking, she passed away from her illness the following night.
DeWayne admitted to police that he had tried to hasten her death out of love, believing that he was sparing her further suffering. “He said he put his face up against hers and put his one hand around her neck… and pushed just hard enough to help her suffering and make her pass away quicker,” according to court records.
While McCulla was initially charged with attempted murder, a crime that could carry a sentence of up to 15 years to life in prison, he reached a plea deal with prosecutors, reducing the charge to attempted manslaughter. This third-degree felony now carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison. His sentencing is set for December 12.
The case has deeply divided the family. Anthony Ryder, Arenda’s son, has spoken out against the plea deal, arguing that DeWayne should face harsher consequences. “She didn’t die with dignity,” Ryder said, expressing his opposition to what he views as an injustice in his mother’s memory.
This case shines a light on the painful choices families must navigate when faced with terminal illness. It also underscores the importance of respecting the sanctity of life, even in the darkest of times. While DeWayne’s actions were driven by love and desperation, his case serves as a reminder that taking matters into one’s own hands, especially in such a fraught and emotional situation, can lead to tragic consequences.
