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In NYC, a tragic crossing of paths

Posted: Friday, January 19, 2007 12:00 PM by Dateline Editor
Filed Under: ,

by Lee Kamlet, Dateline producer

As a child growing up in Colorado, I could only imagine what it would be like to live in New York. The Empire State Building, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty were all magical places I could only dream about. The hustle and bustle of the city, hailing a cab or riding the subway, seemed like a foreign existence. I never thought it would become part of my everyday life.   But like many people, I was drawn to the city, to its energy and its possibilities. And so it was with another transplant to the city:  Kendra Webdale.

In 1997, Kendra left her hometown in upstate to move to New York City. She worked at a recording studio, and loved to spend time sitting outside, just watching people.  Her warmth comes through in the many pictures and home videos her family shared with us.


Kendra Webdale

Her family said Kendra would never turn away from a stranger. That proved to be true, in the most tragic of ways. On a damp, dreary day in January 1999, Kendra crossed paths with another New Yorker, a stranger named Andrew Goldstein. Kendra had made a last-minute decision to defy the rain, and take the subway to meet some friends. Andrew was going to take the same train home. Witnesses say Andrew stepped up to Kendra and asked the time.  Then, just as the train pulled into the station, he stood behind Kendra, and with what one person called impeccable timing, shoved Kendra in front of the train. She died on the tracks.

The horrific story stunned not only New Yorkers, but the entire nation. What could have prompted someone to push a total stranger in front of the fast-moving train?

To find the answer, Dateline spent 10 months investigating the story.  We learned that Andrew Goldstein had quite a history.  Once a student at one of New York's premier high schools, he developed schizophrenia, an incurable brain disease that can cause hallucinations, paranoia, and, in rare untreated cases, bizarre, and even violent behavior. 

We obtained access to Goldstein's confidential 3,500 page medical record, which is replete with evidence that he had a long history of violence, particularly against women.  It also revealed that the mental health system either could not, or would not give him the help he needed.  His journey through poorly coordinated services and revolving door care would, in the end, lead to that subway platform, and Kendra Webdale.

But this is not only a story about Kendra Webdale and Andrew Goldstein.  It is also about Kendra's remarkable family, particularly her parents,  Pat and Ralph Webdale.  Look up "salt of the earth" in the dictionary.  In my book it says, "See Webdale."  You need only talk to them for a short time to appreciate how much they loved their daughter, and understand why they grieve for her every day. Yet despite some very low points, and moments of extreme pain and doubt, they did not succumb to their misery, but rather followed a path which is quite surprising.

Over the years, the Webdales have not only developed compassion for mentally ill people and their families, but they have worked hard to educate the rest of us about mental illness.

This is not tilting at windmills stuff.  Their efforts have lead directly to changes in the mental health system, not only in New York, but across the nation.  Due in part to the Webdales' work, New York state says it has taken steps to streamline, coordinate, and better monitor mental health services for people with serious mental illness.  It has also made more community services available, giving the highest priority to treating the people who are most in need. And 41 states have passed "Kendra's Law," which would, under certain circumstances, force someone like Goldstein to take medication, compel the state to monitor him, and briefly hospitalize him if he refuses to comply.

Pat Webdale is surely right when she says, "It's not an ego trip to have a law named after your child."  But Kendra's Law stands as the legacy of a young woman's family, and their determination to not let her death be in vain.

Dateline's report on "Deadly Encounter," the life-shattering crime and the seven-year search for justice, airs Jan. 20 Saturday, 8 p.m. on NBC.

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Comments

There are two victims here. It's a shame that the money all those hospitals coughed up as defendents in the lawsuit brought by Kendra's family didn't have a few bucks to spend helping this man, who did not deny his illness and kept asking for help. Unless you are close to a mentally ill person, you have no idea just how bad the side effects of medication can be: Vomitting, nausea, blinding headaches, enormous weight gain, ticks, tardive dyskensia that is often irreversible. It is sad that emphasis is put on the minute number of crimes committed against others by the mentally ill. They form a miniscule percentage of the overwhelming number of crimes committed by 'normal' sane people. It is also sad that we see no programs honoring the mentally ill who do see their doctors, who do take their medication religiously, and struggle to maintain a useful life.

Proud mother of a schizophrenic who takes care of herself (Sent Saturday, January 20, 2007 10:16 PM)

I am from Alberta Canada , my heart goes out to Kendra's family , my sister has this illness that is progressing just like this story .Everything about this story sounds just like what is happening in our lives. I am terrified someone will get fatally hurt. She won't take her medication and there is nothing I can do and the mental health system here does not allow forced treatment.I pray everday no one will end up dead.

Lisa James (Sent Saturday, January 20, 2007 11:31 PM)

OK, so i just had to comment somewhere. I just watched the show and one thing hit me. Her father. One of the last things he says to the camera on the show is that Andrew has never said he is sorry and has never expressed any remorse. Has he ever met a schizophrenic before?!?! The man is mentally ill He cannot feel remorse. I think it is such a tragedy that no one was keeping track of this guy and this death was allowed to happen. Please, place blame where it belongs and don't keep waiting for him to come out with some eloquent apology.

dorkzillatutu (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 12:14 AM)

I understand about this story as schizophrenia runs in my family also. I think forgiveness should be on all sides. Forgiveness for the mentally ill and forgiveness for the system. In 1991, my brother seriously injured my mother to the point of near death. She was in the hospital for five months recovering from a brain injury and was not able to return to her home and since 1992 has lived in a nursing home because of what happened to her. My brother was acquitted by Alberta law and put in a mental instutition for 3 to 4 years. He was slowly rehabilitated and released and did well for many years up to the past year. He now has been in and out of the hospital the past year as he had a relapse of his schizophrenia due to different stresses in his life. I believe schizophrenics with past history of violence, etc should be forced to have their medication. For their good and others. I feel sincere compassion for schizophrenics and what they have to go through. I also have sympathy for their victims also. It's a very hard disease for the person that has it and also their families. My heart goes out to Mr. Goldstein and Kendra. Both are victims of this most terrible disease.

Gloria Sihlis, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 12:17 AM)

Before I give my comment on this investigative piece that aired on your network tonight, let me start by saying that I have worked in the mental health system for the last 10 years, 5 of which were as an intensive mental health case manager. Most of my work has been in helping people with the terribly dibilitating disease of schizophrenia, people who the late Harry Stack Sullivan, a pioneer in the treatment of schizophrenia, once called "the loneliest of the lonely." I have to say that I am upset to the point of outrage by the slanted, shoddy piece of investigative journalism that was aired tonight on your network. This piece only served to further stigmatize an already disenfranchised population, and served blame for this tragic event on an overworked, underpaid, unappreciated, and underfunded mental healthcare system. From Reagan on down to George W. Bush, funding for the mentally ill has been slashed in favor of providing tax breaks for the wealthies 1% of Americans and to pay for the unprecendented build up in our military industrial complex. We are outraged that such a horrific event occurred, but as Americans, we need to look at ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves why we have failed to provide the necessary funding to prevent such incidents from ever occurring in the first place. The grim answer, I'm afraid, is that it is far easier to stigmatize and demonize than it is to finance programs that could actually provide the necessary help to millions of our citizens, so that they might retain a degree of dignity that is their God given right. The real question isn't how Mr. Goldstein could have been "allowed" to push a beautiful, innocent young lady in front of a train; the question is, that out our continued shortsightedness and slefishness, why doesn't this sort of thing happen more often? Lastly, as Mr. Webdail commented at the end of the show about his shock at Goldstein's lack of remorse, as if this somehow demonstrated that he was culpable for his actions, I wondered if your reporter knew that one the the symptoms of the disease of schizophrenia is a disconnection of feeling, poverty of speech and poverty of what we without the disease would consider a "normal" emotional response? Next time do your homework, NBC. Of course, reporting the truth about this illness might not have been as sensational, would it?

Robert S. Naylor, Delmar, MD (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 1:10 AM)

It is very clear there are victims on both sides of this story. And then there are the victims on the periphery, those who are not directly involved but affected none the less. Mental illness in America effects everyone. The mentally ill are not only the homeless people you see on the streets, they are your neighbors, classmates, teachers, relatives and close friends. There is longer an issue about the 'rights' of the mentally ill in this country because they have no rights. No right to treatment and no rights to fair treatment within the law. It is a travesty that mental health patients are incarcerated for crimes that result directly from the lack of available, effective treatment for an illness they have no control over. It is wrong to systematically categorize these people as refusing to take medication and this is perpetuated by mental health providers in all positions. People need to know that treating mental illness with medication is an arduous and difficult process that frequently produces more health problems than they fix. There are too few community mental health programs and the for-pay medical services are too restricted to assure adequate treatment to anyone. It is nearly impossible to get into a mental health hospital in this country unless you are threatening your own life or the life of another. And that is too often too late to do any good. If you really care about this issue and have concerns about these crimes then do yourself and your loved ones a favor and tell your elected officials about the need for improvement and change in mental health treatment at the community level.

D. Ayres, Bipolar in Oklahoma City, OK (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 3:11 AM)

A terrible tragedy. I cannot even imagine the pain suffered by both sides in this instance. But it is a valuable lesson for public commuters: never stand too close to any rail edge. I see almost once a week teenagers (myself just in my early twenties) jokingly 'fake push' each other into oncoming trains, grabbing their friends at the last moment. I have had aggressive people approach me, as though to attack me from behind. As a result, I step as far away as possible, ready to go straight for their most vulnerable body points if any physical attack comes. Its a sad age that we live in, but when people are willing to take your life for "looking at them with disrespect" (a.k.a. for reading a sign next to them while wearing a freshly washed jacket), or sadly in Kendra's case, for nothing at all, you have no choice but to be ready to defend yourself by all lawful means. And in response to Sarah, I don't think any political party can be singled out: most of the Reagan decisions can be traced back to the Carter administration. Moreover, I don't see any organizations out on the streets marching for this cause -- from either side of the aisle. People want to continue to drone around in their own little world, pretend things are going great, and throw their arms up in the air and point fingers when things do downhill.

Anonymous (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 6:36 AM)

I am heartened by several comments that indicate the writers have a mature understanding of mental illness, but there are far too many comments indicate total ignorance of the issue. Several contributors appear to be in denial. This is the impression I got of Kendra's family as I watched her story. Throughout the presentation they ignored or brushed aside Andrew's history of mental illness; they denied its relevance. This was also the case with the prosecution who got the court to suppress evidence related to his illness, and the jury which cavalierly refused to spend any time examining his medical files. Everyone involved took the position that he was sane when he committed this terrible act; Andrew acted with knowledge and control. His actions were volitional, and, therefore, he is a criminal. Given all of this, I was absolutely blown away when, at the completion of the show, it was said that the Webdale's are suing the State of New York for failing to treat Andrew! How can that be? The implication of this is that Andrew was released from treatment while he was insane. It seems they want to have their cake and eat it too. They were complicit in having Andrew's defense of insanity quashed, and now they tacitly admit he was insane; what else can they be proposing by their suit. He was either sane when he committed the act or insane. He couldn't have been both; either Andrew bears personal responsibility or he doesn't. Seeking monetary damages now after insisting he was sane when he pushed their daughter off the platform is at best illogical and at worst larcenous. The only honest action if they pursue this would be to support an appeal for Andrew.

Charles, Chamnbersburg, PA (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 9:34 AM)

I'm a neuropsychologist and was in school during the time that big changes were being made in the way that mental health care services were managed and financed in this country. Starting in 1963, there came a push to stop instutionalizing people with mental illness. The big plan was to have a continuum of care so that people with chronic mental health disorders could receive the services that would keep them and the community safe and have the least coercive places. The institutions were opened up and people were literally dumped onto the streets, but year by year the system of mental health centers and programs was scaled back because of cost issues. The mentally ill did not have organized clout in government. So there were a lot more people in the community with severe mental illnesses, not getting treatment. ALSO, in the early 1980's medical economics became a big force within insurance companies and governent. They invented the concept of "DRG's" (Diagnostic Related Groups). So in Michigan in the 1980's a person with schizophrenia could receive 17 days of inpatient treatment and then the insurer would not have to pay anything more. Overall this situation is like the Ford Pinto in the 1970's. Everyone knows that the car is dangerous, but the economists figure that one death in every 10,000 people or 100,000 people is ok. That is the cost of doing business. The real story here is not the tragic death of this young woman, but the larger mental lealth care problem.

Jim Thomas, Bangor, ME (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 10:42 AM)

I am writing this because I work in the prison system and I see this happening every day. We have people out there who need help but there is very few places where they can turn. If a mentaly ill person committes a crime we consider them the criminaly insane. They end up in the prison system who has no training in how to deal with them. We lock them up in a padded cell 24 hrs a day, only to come out for showers. I live in Louisiana and the waiting list for a hospital that deals with the the criminal insane is years. Sometimes these people are stuck in these cells for years. When their due for release we have no choice but to release them. Even though we know that they are a danger to themselves and others. I believe the goverment needs to set money aside for more hospitals that deal with these people, not just for building more prisons and jails. This is a huge problem that needs to be addressed.

Melissa Powe, Monroe, Louisiana (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 1:16 PM)

I am an RN that has worked in the mental health field for years, it boggles my mind that a person that is mentally ill has the 'right' to refuse medication without a court order. I realize that the Mental Health Code(s) have/had their place, but as a society we HAVE come far enough in our understanding of diseases of the brain to abolish many of the redundant laws! A society is judged by the way it cares for their young, old and infirm...what did our current laws and services do for Kendra or Andrew? We need to discern which plan of care is best for the violent Mentally ill person, prison (eventually) or a controlled environment? Someone should figure out the cost of housing the mentally ill in prison versus a controlled environment...maybe money will make the government take a look at this awful predicament.

Mary Zimmer, New Baltimore, Michigan (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 3:07 PM)

Schizophrenia is a terrible illness. Patients often fail to comply with their meds. They go off them because of side effects or simply feel that they are better and no longer need them. This can have deadly results. I had a patient who was sent to the ER because of suicidial and homocidial ideations. The ER doc did not communicate well in English. Despite the report given when the patient was turned over to the ED staff, the man was sent home. He proceeded to attack his mother and father with a machette. The sister found them the next morning. The mother died the father survived.

Barbara Long, N. Stonington, CT (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 3:10 PM)

Mike, it's nice to hear from someone with no understanding of what compassion actually means. Schizophrenia is a biological illness, for one, for another, the man requested treatment and was thwarted in his attempts to obtain it. I weep watching this show, with the knowledge that both Kendra and Andrew are martyrs. This poor girl was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but she should not have to have worried about something like this happening. We live in a country, special thanks to people like you, Mike & JD, which only cares about the health and dignity of persons with enough "disposable" income to care for their health alone. I only hope that you are in a tax bracket that will allow the government to pick your pockets to pay for what is right and just. The only way to cut down on such tragic events is to do away with mismanaged care and deprivatise the healthcare system.

Larissa McGeer, San Francisco, CA (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 3:15 PM)

Kendra's parents seem like wonderful people. They probably know their Daughter is in Heaven. Mr. Goldstein is still livng his nightmare every day. The voices that the mentally ill hear tell them what to do. There is no way we can know what or how they deal with it. How do I know? My Son is thirty four. He left home and lived on the streets for over five years. I could not convince him to come home. "They would not let him come". Until you know someone who has this problem, you cannot judge. I had no idea my beautiful Son would eat out of dumpsters, sleep in horse corrals, have his head slammed up against a brick wall by poicemen who arrested him for falling asleep in public areas. He will probably never have a girlfriend, drive a four wheel drive, play golf, or any of the things he used to do. I have fought for almost a year to get him medication and evaluated. The mentally ill have all the rights. Families have no rights. I was told by the court..he is 34 years old, he can live under a bridge if he wants to. I was told I could live under a bridge if I wanted to. What mentality do the people have that our mentally ill come in contact with every day. It took a Constable in Canada to help get my Son back home. They do not put their mentally ill back on the streets to be harmed or harm other people if they are arrested. The policemen in our country either are not trained on recognizing mental illness or just do not care. If I had not had someone to help time my Son's release back into the states and assist him in getting home, he would still be out there. He was removed from public transportation, allowed to be jeered at by other passengers, and left in remote areas without his belongings. Why did it take Canada to see that he had a problem?

Pat, Tennessee (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 4:11 PM)

I did not see the Dateline broadcast, but I've read the state's investigation of Andrew Goldstein's psychiatric history. (It is available online.) I hope Dateline reported that Goldstein was discharged from a psychiatric hospital prematurely with a one-week supply of medication. I hope the viewers learned that as his schizophrenia worsened, he committed himself for hospital treatment 13 times, and that both he and his mother pleaded repeatedly that he be discharged to a supervised residence where he had done well for four years. Unfortunately, instead of becoming a national wakeup call to the critical shortage of psychiatric housing and treatment, the senseless and tragic Webdale murder was blamed on "treatment refusal" to clinch the passage of New York's compulsory medication law. to accomplish the passage of New York's forced medication law. I might caution NBC viewers that Dateline's "more info" box for Kendra's Law was written by the leading controversial proponent of compulsory medication for psychiatric outpatiens.

Jean Arnold, New York City, NY (Sent Sunday, January 21, 2007 8:09 PM)

I watched the story an I had one thought, why does this continue to happen. I have a friend who is mentally ill an was given medication on a monthly basis by a shot. Since being his medication by shot he hasn't had any more problems, he remains stable. Medication is a cronic problem with the mentally ill. If the shot which last for one month an has been around for fifteen years why isn't it used more often? My friend who takes the shot has no insurance an goes to a free clinic an if he has access to the shot why don't others? That's what should be investigated.

Jesse Herring 114 Woodgate Circle Winston-Salem, NC (Sent Monday, January 22, 2007 8:36 AM)

I am sick and tired of letting mentally ill people get sympathy for something they can obviously control. If Mr. Goldstein was that mentally ill, how is he able to control who he becomes violent with or ride the subways of NY? People like him use mental illness as an excuse for their criminal behavior and the psychobable that psychologists use to excuse criminal behavior is no better. You do not need a psychologist to explain the difference between common sense behavior and abnormal. Psychologists are nothing but quacks who failed getting into med school.

PB, York, PA (Sent Monday, January 22, 2007 9:49 AM)

I agree, mental illness is an excuse and persons who exhibit this behavior should be locked away or put to death in case of violent behavior. People in this country needs to quit being scared about what to do when someone is a danger and the government is afraid of violating "rights". You have no rights when you are mentally ill. Period!!!!

PNC, Atlantic City, NJ (Sent Monday, January 22, 2007 9:58 AM)

I can not believe what I have read of some of the comments concerning Mental Illness. It is evident to me that those who have made these comments have no idea or no empathy for others. Mental Illness is not a choice. You do not ask to have a Heart Attack, Cancer or Diabetes...nor do you ask to have a Mental Illness. It is also apparent that some of the writers have never had contact with someone with Mental Illness. When someone is having irrational thoughts, they cannot stop the thoughts. They believe what they are thinking to be true.The thoughts control there actions.The energy that it takes to try and stop these thoughts, is unbelievable. And there are times when they can not be stopped...it isnnot a matter of choice...if it were...ifonly it was that easy. There is nothing easy about Mental Illness...it is not a choice... We need to do more to help those who are afflicted with Mental Illness. We need to quit blaming them for an illness they did not ask for. This is a very complex subject. I only wish there were easy answers...that there would be no more Kendra's or Andrew's...

Sara from Pa (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 1:43 AM)

To a lot of people, the "mentally ill", are some thing to hide away, lock in the closet. That is the wrong attitude. Yes, what happened is a shame, and there should be laws, for victims, and those who commit the crimes. I am not takeing sides as to his mental stabillity, i am not qualified. Now, I am "mentally unstable". I have many doctor's findings and reports to show that. It is something I have no control over. My anger, temper, and violent "mode" can be triggered easily. For that i want to thank our government. I am a disabled veteran, taught how to "survive" by killing my enemy. I am highly medicated, and have many doctor's that check up on me. I also have a good support group, wife, friends, and my children. So, do not judge, until you have been in the other persons shoes. Without my medication, i could become a very sadistic, unforgiving, cruel person. I have been there.................

HH Middletown, Oh (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 2:33 PM)

It is very tragic what happen to Kendra. I understand that he (Goldstein) was mentally ill but he was also a repeat offender! He had a violent past! It is such a shame for both parts of this conflict. Listen I have two children and if any of them where mentally ill AND violent then I would do all that I could to remove them from society and get them PROFESSIONAL help. These are my children and I love them dearly but you have to think of the better good of society and keep them from hurting others. Maybe if somebody did that for Mr. Goldstein then Kendra would be with us today.

X, Fremont California (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:21 AM)



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