A Letter from Chris Breaz; the Brother of Texas Chiro Melinda Breaz Superville
Recently the body of Melinda Breaz Superville was found in a vacant house by volunteer members of Texas EquuSearch. In some news reports, they claimed that the death was being investigated as an apparent suicide due to the pills present at the scene. According to these reports, there were pills found near her as well as a gun that had not been discharged. There was also initially a report that there was a wound to Melinda’s head.
“… said Sgt. David Crain, with the Houston Police Department. “There is a wound to the body about the head, but I can’t tell specifically where or from what.”
There was also no suicide note and her keys were initially found hanging in the door lock of her office that she shared with her husband. Melinda Superville’s home, office and vacant home where she was found are all in close proximity to one another. Later news reports would say that there was no sign of physical trauma to Melinda’s body.
With the many conflicting stories and the fact that it was unknown what happened to Melinda Superville, everyone figured they would wait for The Harris County Medical Examiner’s office to determine the cause of death. At least that’s what Melinda’s family thought.
That was until the Paris News published an article where Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville, the brother of Tom Superville, made the following statement regarding the death of his sister-in-law Melinda.
Superville said he expects his sister-in-law’s death to be ruled either an accidental or intentional overdose of prescribed medications.
“She was wrestling with some problems of depression that I did not know about,” Superville said.
Then there was a surprising obituary that was written. Surprising in the fact that it actually referenced the cause of death being a suicide as nearly all never do. Even more surprising in the fact that the ME’s office had not officially announced the cause of death.
MELINDA MARIE BREAZ SUPERVILLE’S spirit was liberated on December 2, 2005 due to an accidental overdose. She was 43.
As one can imagine I am sure Melinda Breaz Superville’s family may be none too happy with prematurely stating, let alone discussing their family members death. Prior to an official announcement as to a cause of death it is at best “bad form” to discuss it. Judge Superville’s comments and the Paris New’s printing of a cause of death as if it were fact is a bit troubling.
However, not a troubling as Christopher Breaz’ attempt to get equal time to present Melinda’s family side in her death. We at Scared Monkeys can only speculate as to what happened with the many clues and leads that were present at the crime scene and leading up to the discovery of her body. That is why one generally waits until the final autopsy to make such a comment as to rule that it was a suicide. It is rather strange that the same was not afforded in this case. The following is the letter that Chris sent to the Paris, TX paper that was not printed. Even though they allowed certain comments to be printed in their paper from Judge Superville regarding a suicide prior to any confirmation.
You will not see this printed in the newspaper, but you will here. The following is Chris Breaz’s letter in its entirety.
Dear __________, (name deleted)
I am a brother of Melinda Breaz Superville.
Firstly, in your article it was stated the “…Houston police found her body…”. That is inaccurate and can be verified with the police. I found her body as a participatory in a Texas EquuSearch SAR team. You were correct in stating Melinda was found close to their office (and also their home). Extremely close…roughly 200 yards away.
Secondly, I have a problem with the repetition of Judge Superville’s expectation of cause of death, although the final ruling may well be a pharmaceutical overdose. It is, in my opinion, unfair to make that statement prior to the issuance of an official ruling from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s office. This seems to unfairly paint my sister in a negative light, one which she can not defend herself against. Why can’t we wait until the official ruling? Are we not presumed innocent until proven guilty? What is to be gained from this premature statement?
Thirdly, I would like to know which doctor(s) the good judge spoke to regarding Melinda’s “…problems of depression…” that he – I assume previously – did not know about. Who are these doctors to divulge confidential doctor-patient information, and why were they not interviewed and quoted? What were the causes of Melinda’s supposed depression? Did the judge share that there were domestic violence incident reports filed against his brother, Thomas Paul Superville, for physical abuse of my sister and even my mother who was 73 at the time of his breaking my mother’s finger? Perhaps the judge’s statement that Melinda had been “wrestling” with some problems was right on the mark.
Lastly, I have to wonder why Judge Superville’s statements about my sister were so important to publish, and why the Supervilles insisted on adding to the obituary that Melinda’s cause of death was an accidental overdose (in spite of a refusal of ruling by the ME’s office), especially when his own brother, James/Jimmy Francis Superville (who was present in Houston during this entire time), was never acknowledged as a survivor in their own mother’s obituary published in your paper in November of 2002.
I appreciate your consideration of the above mentioned questions. Please feel free to contact me should you care to.
Best regards,
Christopher Breaz
We appreciate Chris for sharing this letter with us. He brings up many good points. Among them, how about just some common courtesy and decency for the dearly departed.