Guide Note

Carlene Balderrama was a Taunton, Massachusetts wife and mother who committed suicide with her husband's high-powered rifle just a few hours before her home was about to be sold in a foreclosure auction.¹

Fast Facts

1. Born: ca. 1955¹
2. Residence: 103 Duffy Drive, Taunton, Massachusetts²
3. Spouse: John Balderrama¹
4. Mortgage company: Cendant Mortgage²
5. Committed suicide with husband's rifle¹
6. Home was to be auctioned at 5 p.m. on July 22, 2008¹
7. Faxed letter to mortgage company at 2:30 p.m. on July 22¹
8. Told company she was going to be dead by time of auction¹
9. Police found body at 3:30 p.m., July 22¹
10. Left suicide note¹
11. Carlene Balderrama handled all bills for household¹
12. Husband did not know house was going to be sold¹
13. Body still in house as buyers began to arrive for auction¹

Balderrama reportedly faxed a letter to her mortgage company at 2:30 p.m. on the day her home was to be sold at auction. In the letter, Balderrama wrote to the company, "By the time you foreclose on my house, I'll be dead." In a suicide note left next to her body, Balderrama told her son and husband to take her life insurance money and pay for the house.¹