Mercy or Murder 1987 Roswell and Emily Gilbert were married for fifty one years, but for the eight final years of their marriage Emily suffered from Alzheimers disease and the bone disease osteoporosis Often in pain, Emily begged to die In March 1985, 75 year old Roswell shot Emily in the head He said it was an act of mercy, but he was tried for murder and convicted as the nation debated euthanasia