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MANTUA — A Cache Valley family is trying to spread the word about help for suicide prevention and bring some positive change from their own horrible tragedy.
It's the family of a man who shot and killed his wife before taking his own life. His family wishes he would have come to them or someone else before things got so bad. They also want others to know help is available.
No one in this story is trying to make excuses for Dustin Preece, but they are still hurting for what he did.
Dustin's mother, Dawn Wilson, said, "I feel like I'm lost without my son."
His sister Lynze Preece said it was not the Dustin they knew.
"I mean, I grew up with him and he was completely opposite all of this," Preece said.
In June, Preece shot and killed his wife, Heather, before turning the gun on himself. Their teenage daughter later made the discovery.
Wilson said she learned after talking with deputies that suicidal threats and attempts number close to one a day in Cache County.
"You have to think of your other family members," Wilson said. "What's going to happen after you're gone? Who has to live through the tragedy?"
They want to get the message to others to get help before things turn truly bad.
Lt. Doyle Peck with the Cache County Sheriff's Office said suicide-related calls have been way up since 2019 with well over 330 in 2022 and nearly 200 so far this year.
"We would always say, 'One suicide is one too many,'" Peck said. "It's not getting better right now. We do know there's a lot of resources out there, which is what I always try to tell people."
That's the kind of message these grieving family members want to deliver. They're making T-shirts featuring the 988 suicide prevention hotline.
Wilson said, "We can't have any more suicides. We just can't."
Preece added, "People just need to be kind and respectful with one another because you never know what somebody's got going on."
They can't help but wonder if Dustin would have gotten help, maybe two more people would be alive today.
The Preece family is also considering whether to start a foundation to provide scholarships for those looking into mental health careers.
The family plans to participate in a walk to prevent suicide, which is set for Sept. 16 in Mantua.
Suicide prevention resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Crisis Hotlines
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
- SafeUT Crisis Line: 833-372-3388
- 988 Suicide and Crisis LifeLine at 988
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386
Online resources
- NAMI Utah: namiut.org
- SafeUT: safeut.org
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Utah chapter: afsp.org/chapter/utah
