RFK Jr.'s Late Wife Mary's Autopsy Report Is So Heartbreaking

The following article includes mentions of suicide, addiction, and mental health struggles.

Like much of his family, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is no stranger to tragedy. Among them is the death of his second wife, Mary Richardson. Richardson, the mother of four of RFK Jr.'s six children, died by suicide in her New York home in May 2012. RFK Jr. and Richardson had been estranged since 2010 when he filed for divorce, which was still pending. While Richardson had been struggling with alcohol addiction and depression, her autopsy report showed she had been sober at the time of her death.

The death dominated headlines not only because of its shocking nature but also because it came amid yet another of the many scandals that have rocked RFK Jr.'s reputation. A year after Richardson's death, it came to light that she had reportedly come across a 2001 diary in which RFK Jr. documented the affairs he had during their marriage. The discovery sent Richardson on a downward spiral of self-destructive behavior. "She was deeply troubled, abusing alcohol and prescription meds," a friend of Richardson's told the New York Post.

But the friend blamed RFK Jr. for her downfall. "She had cause. She was used up and tossed away by Bobby. That was awful," the insider said. In a 2011 affidavit filed during their divorce, RFK Jr. accused Richardson of abusive behavior toward his children from his first marriage and of being drunk and threatening suicide in front of their children. But despite Richardson's struggles with addiction, alcohol didn't play a role in her death.

Mary Richardson consumed no alcohol before her suicide. The medical examiner noted in the autopsy report that she had, however, taken three different antidepressants: trazodone, desmethylvenlafaxine, and venlafaxine, Reuters reported. The issue of Richardson's mental health played a big role in her divorce from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In the 2011 confidential affidavit published by Newsweek in 2012, RFK Jr. said Richardson had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. 

Her family took issue with his side of the story, accusing him of intimidation tactics. "This latest piling on is proof perfect of the unbelievable emotional and psychological abuse that Mary endured during the last years of her life, and now in death," their statement read (via ABC News). They also denied she suffered from the mental health condition, adding, "The false claim that Mary suffered from BPD [borderline personality disorder] is also an insult to those who do struggle with this serious mental illness."

Whether Richardson had BPD or not is unclear. However, the results of her autopsy suggest she was struggling with depression, a fact loved ones confirmed after her death. "She struggled, she struggled so hard for so long with mental illness, which so many Americans struggle with," Kerry Kennedy, the sister of RFK Jr. who introduced him to Richardson, told CBS News. "And she fought that battle throughout that life and she fought it with dignity and love, and, you know, in the end the demons won."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, is struggling with addiction issues, or needs help with mental health, contact the relevant resources below:

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
• The Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.