Ruth Madoff: ‘Bernie & I Attempted Suicide Together’
Oct. 27 2011, Published 9:30 a.m. ET
RadarOnline.com Senior News Director
Bernie Madoff’s estranged wife Ruth has finally broken her silence regarding her husband’s shocking Ponzi scheme that stole billions of dollars from thousands of unsuspecting investors, including several Hollywood stars, including Kevin Bacon and his wife Kyra Sedgwick.
Mrs. Madoff -- speaking to 60 Minutes’ Morley Safer -- says she and her husband of 50-years were so distraught over the burden of his crimes that they attempted suicide together on Christmas Eve of 2008 -- two weeks after he was arrested.
"I don't know whose idea it was, but we decided to kill ourselves because it was so horrendous what was happening," Madoff tells Safer. "We had terrible phone calls. Hate mail, just beyond anything and I said '...I just can't go on anymore.'"
She says she and Bernie took a bunch of pills, some of them Ambien and possibly some Klonopin. She says they did not drink alcohol with them so they wouldn’t vomit.
"I took what we had, he took more,” she said. But the pills didn't work. "We took pills and woke up the next day....It was very impulsive and I am glad we woke up," she tells Safer.
Ruth and Bernie Madoff haven’t spoken since the death of their son, Mark who took his own life on December 11, 2010 -- the second anniversary of Bernie’s arrest.
(Earlier this month, Mark’s widow, Stephanie Madoff Mack, released a memoir entitled “The End of Normal: A Wife’s Anguish, a Widow’s New Life.” In it, she defends her husband’s innocence and blames his suicide on her former father-in-law).
In the 60 Minutes interview, Safer also speaks to the Madoff’s other son, Andrew.
The report will air this Sunday, October 30 at 7pm ET/PT.
On March 12, 2009, Madoff, now 73, pleaded guilty to 11 federal felonies and was sentenced to 150 years in federal prison.
RELATED STORIES:
Bernie Madoff Belongings Auctioned -- Would You Wear His Underpants?
Kevin Bacon Admits Bernie Madoff Rip-Off Had ‘It’s Emotional Downsides’
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
