TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An 18-year-old man is behind bars for allegedly aiding his 17-year-old girlfriend in taking her own life, according to police officials.
Back on Nov. 20, 2023, the Frisco Police Department in Texas discovered a body in a pond at a local park.
Investigators found that the suspect, identified as Zander Tashman, aided the self-inflicted death of his girlfriend. Tashman was arrested on Feb. 18.
The victim's mother spoke with NBC affiliate KXAS saying her daughter suffered from depression.
"I don’t think I understood it at all. I didn’t understand her reasoning for sadness," the mother said. "I didn’t understand her reasoning for being depressed."
The mother also spoke on her daughter's and Tashman's relationship, saying the relationship was meaningful to her daughter and it was something that she wanted to work out.
“Don’t think that you’re going to talk it over and have a conversation and think that everything is going to be ok tomorrow,” the mother said in a message to parents. “You might not get that tomorrow.”
KXAS also spoke with Tashman's family, as the family attorney released the following statement:
"Zander and his family wish this horrible tragedy had never taken place either. I'm sorry authorities made a poor and probably emotional choice to blame Zander and to do so in a public way. We'll be making our case in a court of law. Zander is an exemplary college student with no prior history of criminal behavior. Zander is innocent."
Officials did not release additional details on how exactly Tashman aided in the death.
Police said Tashman is charged with aiding suicide, with a bond set at $10,000.
In the state of Texas, this felony crime is punishable by "not more than two years or less than 180 days in prison," along with a fine of up to $10,000.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. This line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.