Oct 20, 2017 2 min read

A woman who allegedly encouraged her boyfriend to kill himself while he held a gun to his head Oct. 8 in their Crucible home was charged Thursday by Cumberland Township police with aiding suicide.

Brandi Jane Stallard, 34, of 235 Third St. was charged in connection with the death of Kent D. Armstrong, 58, of the same address. Armstrong was pronounced dead at the scene of a gunshot wound to the head by Greene County Deputy Coroner Bill Lewis.

Police said they were called to the house at 12:12 a.m. by Stallard, who reported that Armstrong, her fiancé, had shot himself. Police said when they arrived at the home, Stallard was outside and crying.

Armstrong was found in an upstairs bedroom with a single gunshot wound to the head, police said. A six-shot, .22-caliber revolver was found away from the body on the bed, police said.

Stallard reportedly told police she and Armstrong were arguing when Armstrong got up and went to retrieve a handgun from a drawer. She said he loaded the gun as he walked back to the bed where Stallard was lying.

Police said Stallard told them she had been laughing at Armstrong because of the way he was acting, and that she wasn’t afraid he had a gun.

Police said, according to Stallard, Armstrong asked “Is this what you want?” and pointed the gun at his head. Stallard said she told him, “Go ahead do it,” and Armstrong pulled the trigger, police said.

Police said a child was found sleeping in the bedroom, away from the victim. The child was removed from the house by police.

Stallard was charged with aiding suicide, a second-degree felony and a charge that, according to the complaint, applies to anyone “who intentionally aids or solicits another to commit suicide,” if the conduct causes a suicide or an attempted suicide.

Stallard was arraigned before District Judge Lee Watson and released on unsecured bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 31.