Cleveland, OH – No good deed goes unpunished. That’s a motto I agree with 100 percent and one that a man in Ohio learned the hard way after he let his homeless son move back into his house.
Prosecutors say that 84-year-old Frank Shull let his son, 56-year-old Byron Shull, and his son’s girlfriend, move into his home because Byron was a jobless, recovering alcoholic with nowhere to live.
But instead of being thankful for the help he was receiving from his father, Byron got upset that he had to abide by the rules his father instated while living under his roof. Completely asinine rules like no drinking or smoking the house. So Byron decided to get a little revenge.
“Traditionally the father drinks milk with each meal. When he got his glass of milk that morning, Byron had put at least one bottle of Visine into the milk,” said Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutor Andy Nichol.
Byron claims it was meant as a harmless prank, because poisoning your elderly father is hilarious. But after consuming the almost two bottles of Visine his son had put in his milk, the elderly man almost died. He was rushed to the hospital, where he spent a month recovering, while doctors tried to figure out what had made the man so sick. Afterwards, Frank spent a month in rehab.
Prosecutors say that during the time his father was hospitalized, Byron never revealed to anyone what he had done to his father. Police did not find out what Byron had done until his girlfriend filed a domestic violence complaint against him and revealed what Byron had put into his father’s milk.
Byron ended up getting arrested and charged with felonious assault, domestic violence and contaminating substance for human consumption or use. He pleaded guilty to the charges last month and was sentenced the other day. His father was in court during this sentencing where he also pleaded. He pleaded with the judge to give his son the maximum sentence allowed.
“He should be held accountable for the pain and suffering he has caused me and my family,” he said.
The judge ended up sentencing Byron to five years in prison and then five years probation after he gets out. Frank Shull said he was satisfied with the sentencing.
Byron’s brother said his sibling has shown no remorse over what he did and is unable to forgive Byron.
“To see my dad have to learn how walk all over again, eat, go to the bathroom, every function that we take for granted… I can’t forgive that,” Byron’s brother told the court.
If this story isn’t sad enough, before Frank was poisoned he was caring for his wife of 62 years, who has dementia. After his hospitalization and rehab, he was no longer able to do so.
Tags: Byron Shull, Crime, Frank Shull, Ohio, poison, Visine
