Teen Suicide Pact: Killed themselves after being told to stop dating
Desiree Patrick
Last week was a busy week– so busy that two teens in Northern Virginia who killed themselves in a suicide pact went largely unnoticed. But, in catching up in my reading, I found in The Washington Post that Desiree Patrick, 17 and Quirinius Williams, 18 apparently died of gunshot wounds in the attic of her home. According to police reports, evidence found “reveals that both subjects agreed to commit suicide.” The article goes on to say that at some point one person’s parent called the other’s parent and the teens were instructed to stay away from each other.
I am saddened by Desiree’s and Quirinius’ decision to end their lives. No matter what their parents felt or said, they still had full lives ahead of them. In America, at 18 you are considered an adult, if you don’t agree with what your parents say, you can move out, get a job, live on your own and on your own terms. To kill yourself as a way to ignore what your parents are saying is a bad move.
I don’t understand suicide pacts because I don’t understand who wins. Life is a lot like a game. You play by certain rules, you obtain certain things. You go to school, you get a diploma. You go to college, you get a degree. You get a degree, you get a job and so on. Each level of life you complete, takes you to the next level. But the suicide pact? That part of the game terminates every player involved. How is it any fun? Who gains anything? Below is a statement from the Patrick family that seems somewhat different from what was reported in The Washington Post. My prayers are both with the Patrick and Williams’ family. I hope Desiree and Quirinius rest in peace.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Aguilar family for the loss of their son Quirinius “Rain” Williams. We are deeply saddened by the loss of our daughter. Desiree and Rain have been close friends since Desiree started at Forest Park. They spent hours texting daily and looked forward to being together when they could at the movies on occasion or at school. It is tragic to live with the thoughts of what could have been for two such promising children and is difficult to understand what would push two young people to see this as the only way to be together. Perhaps our loss will serve as a reminder to all of us that outward appearances can be very different from what is going on inside the mind of someone you love.—Bobby and Pamela Patrick
Is there anything anybody can do to stop teen suicide pacts from happening? Should parents ever tell their teen to stop dating someone that they don’t approve of?
Tags: desiree patrick, quirinius williams, suicide, suicide pact
About the Author
Yasmin Shiraz is the President of Still Eye Rise Films, an independent production company which films educational and thought provoking documentaries that chronicle the lives, traumas and experiences of youth. Her first production, Can She Be Saved?, a documentary that examines violence among middle school girls, was an official selection of the 2009 Roxbury Film Festival and recently won a 2009 Indie Award of Merit from IndieFest.
Yasmin Shiraz is the Award winning Author of Retaliation a novel about a community’s response to youth violence. In 2009, it was selected as one of the top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers by the American Library Association. She is the author of The Blueprint for My Girls: How To Build A Life Full of Courage, Determination & Self Love (Simon and Schuster) and five other books. Her best selling “Blueprint” empowerment series is utilized as a self esteem, motivational, and educational tool at middle and high schools, after school programs, non-profit youth centers, as well as Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the country. 
3 Comments for Teen Suicide Pact: Killed themselves after being told to stop dating
December 9, 2009 at 3:02 pm
you did a great job on this article
October 3, 2010 at 9:47 pm
it has almost been a year sense Desi and rain has not been with us..but i know they are here in our hearts..and yes u are right about how they should have done something else other then end there life but..there was more then just not letting them go out with one another..every time i see that pic of desi i cry she was so pretty..and i miss her so much :.(
November 9, 2010 at 7:46 am
You did a fantastic job on this article, desiree and rain were my two best friends, the most wonderful ppl you could ever imagine and it hurts so much that they are gone, i knew desi was in pain and i tried so hard to help her.. as for rain i would have never expected this, he was talented and had the world at his feet, he would have done great things.. R.I.P Rain & Desi your souls will live on forever in my heart…</3