| Notes |
- Skyline Bridge Death Ruled Accidental
Post Crescent
A mentally disturbed man who had just walked away from St. Elizabeth Hospital hung precipitously from the edge of the Oneida Skyline Bridge for more than an hour Tuesday before horrified witnesses watched him fall 73 feet to his death.
William H. Vandehey, 33, died of massive internal injuries when his body struck a railroad bed far beneath the bridge, just south of the Fox River. The incident began at 11:10 a.m.
Less than 24 hours earlier, a psychiatrist talked police into allowing Vandehey to voluntarily check himself into St. Elizabeth Hospital after the Kimberly man broke into the home of his estranged wife and briefly held his two small children hostage.
Reports indicate Little Chute police officers had wanted to sign an emergency 72-hour commitment.
Authorities said Vandehey was enraged by his pending divorce and railed against his estranged wife as he hung on the outer edge of the bridge. He kept one or both feet on a cement ledge and one arm looped around the guardrail.
He had been talking excitedly for several minutes in the presence of police negotiators when he suddenly became silent.
He saw something at the south end (of the bridge), his face went blank and he just let go, said one witness, a professional photographer. He fell forever. It seemed like a long time.
Vandehey's death was ruled an accident this morning by Steve Wulgaert, deputy Outagamie County coroner. Wulgaert said even though the Kimberly man was threatening suicide, there are indications he suffered an epileptic seizure during the incident and simply lost his grip.
He had these petit mal seizures whenever he had a lot of stress, said Wulgaert, who knew the man. He would just go blank, like he was in a daze.
Vandehey had previously been convicted of domestic battery and was under probation for an incident in January when he choked his wife during an argument about money. His wife, who feared for her safety, obtained a court injunction last February barring him from coming near her for one year.
When he broke into her kitchen Monday, she fled the house and called police.
Police in Little Chute said Vandehey held his 9-month old son at the broken window while holding a piece of glass like a knife. He did not threaten the boy with the glass, police said.
Patrol officer Kevin McSorley eventually convinced Vandehey to put down the glass and hand him the child through the window. Vandehey then picked up another piece of glass and his 2-year old daughter, and the standoff continued. He demanded that his wife, Noreen, be sent to the front door.
Instead, McSorley arranged for Noreen Vandehey to stand in front of, but a safe distance from, the house, and her husband allowed the 2-year old to walk out.
After two telephone calls from a psychiatrist at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Vandehey agreed to give himself up and enter treatment at the hospital. Police said they wanted to initiate an emergency 72-hour commitment, but were convinced by the psychiatrist to allow Vandehey to sign himself in voluntarily.
Shortly thereafter, we heard about a man on the bridge, and we knew it was him, said Little Chute investigator Tom Verhagen.
Little Chute police had been preparing several criminal charges based on Monday's home invasion.
Vandehey called his wife from the hospital Tuesday morning and said he was coming back to the house in Little Chute, police said. At that time, police arranged for his wife to stay at another address.
Vandehey previously threatened suicide last May 16 when he climbed a two-story appliance store on Walter Avenue in Appleton and attracted a crowd of onlookers. In that instance, police negotiators Dan Feucht and Pat Geenen talked to him for more than four hours before he surrendered and agreed to seek treatment. Appleton police signed a 72-hour emergency commitment at that time.
Vandehey was subsequently released.
Feucht was on the bridge Tuesday, talking again with Vandehey. He was accompanied by Officer Greg Franzke. Neither officer has spoken with reporters since Vandehey's death.
Dan and Greg are shook up right now, said another officer after the incident Tuesday. They never expected this. They are convinced he didn't jump.
Wulgaert said the officers who were talking to Vandehey believe he suffered a seizure.
Vandehey's mother, Patricia, was also on the bridge Tuesday, Wulgaert said.
During the incident on the appliance store, Wulgaert said, Vandehey told officers he was threatening suicide in order to get attention. He said he needed help.
He made similar statements on the bridge Tuesday, the deputy coroner said.
They said he was talking to them really good . . . and all of a sudden he just seemed to stare, Wulgaert said. They said his grip loosened and he just fell backward.
William H. Vandehey
227 S. Walnut Street, Kimberly
Age 33, died Tuesday, July 2, 1991. He was born June 11, 1958 in Kimberly, the son of James and Patricia (DeLeeuw) Vandehey. Bill enjoyed fishing, golfing and mostly playing with his kids. He was a member of St. John Catholic Church, Little Chute and Local Union No. 18. He is survived by his wife of 9 ½ years, Noreen (McCormick) Vandehey; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Herman Vandehey, Kimberly; a son, Kyle; a daughter, Anna; four brothers and three sisters-in-law: Tim and Pat Vandehey, Mukwonago; Lee and Lisa Vandehey, Kimberly; Robert and Cathy Vandehey, Appleton; and Michael Vandehey, Neenah; two sisters and two brothers-in-law: Lynn and Rick Boyer, Little Chute; Cathy and Mark Doule, Menasha; aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Laura. The funeral service will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Holy Name Catholic Church with Msgr. Jim Vanden Hogen officiating. Burial will be in Holy Name Name Cemetery, Kimberly. Friends may call at Holy Name Church from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday until the time of service. A memorial fund has been established in his name. Jansen-Fargo Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Daddy, we know how much you so loved us and we will cherish and hold onto your love forever. We must say goodbye but continue to watch over us. You must go but you will be welcomed in fine peace in Heaven with God and Laura. Love, Anna and Kyle
Outagamie County Circuit Court
William H. Vandehey; 32, 223 Franklin St., Little Chute. 60-day jail term stayed, placed on probation for two years for battery in conjunction with a Jan. 31 domestic fight.
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1958 - 1991 (33 years)
