The Westmoreland district of Strathbogie was yesterday rattled by news of a man who rigged the exhaust apparatus of his motor car to suffocate himself.

About 8:45 a.m. yesterday, a passer-by reportedly noticed that the engine of 45-year-old Aldred McBean's Honda motor car was running and a length of hose was sticking out of the exhaust pipe and through a window of the vehicle.

Savanna-la-Mar investigators believe that McBean died of suffocation after he reportedly rigged the hose from the tailpipe of the car and stuffed it with paper so that the exhaust would flow through the hose. He then placed a large rock on the gas pedal and put the other end of the hose in his mouth.

A man who gave his name as Froggy said that he saw McBean earlier that morning and McBean asked him to buy $500 worth of painkillers. This led the investigators to believe that McBean also overdosed himself with the tablets as part of his plan to ensure that the suicide was successful.

The Gleaner also learnt that McBean attempted to kill his wife and himself two weeks ago by the ingestion of a poisonous substance. They were, however, taken to hospital where they were admitted.

McBean was the holder of a licensed firearm but the police confiscated the weapon after the suicide attempt.

Dispute with wife

Neighbours said on Saturday night there was a heated argument between McBean and his wife. It is unclear what caused the dispute.

McBean's apparent suicide follows the murder-suicide of three Westmorelanders earlier this month. On Saturday, November 3, the bodies of 41-year-old nurse, Carol Waldron, and her two daughters, aged 14 and three months, of Grange Hill, Westmoreland, were found inside a hotel room in Montego Bay, St. James.

Waldron reportedly injected the children - Kadijah and Ashley Waldron - with a poisonous substance before taking her own life.

The three victims were buried on Saturday.