I drafted an email to the local paper reporter and editor:

Dear (reporter for and editor)

This is completely off the record.

I am DH's widow. I lost my husband almost three months ago, leaving me and my children completely unwelcome to attend SS14's funeral as we are no longer considered "family". I also lost my grandmother last week. I am struck with an extreme amount of grief in a very short time.

So please forgive this email. My thought process is not completely clear, and whether to send this at all is something I'm not sure is the best decision, but I have to say something.

I did not read your article all the way through, but it pushed me into a panic attack. It wasn't until someone informed me of BM's comment on the article about the failed court system did I toss and turn and finally decide to contact you directly. I'm sure BM neglected to mention several things, including the fact that she ousted SS14 in April 2015. When SS14's dad was diagnosed with cancer later that year, BM forced SS14 back to live with her after bringing him to a therapy appointment, and calling the police on him. My husband was too ill to intervene. SS14 went to his law guardian, to tell her he could no longer live with his mother. SS14 lived with us exclusively beginning November 2015, with little communication and visits with his mother. SS14's mental health issues continued to decline and whenever DH went to her for help, she refused to participate. DH had no choice but to bring SS14 to live with his grandparents last August where he remained in residence until DH's death in January. When JQ of CPS contacted me and DH's mother shortly thereafter, we advised him that SS14 would make an attempt on his own life if forced to live with BM.

DH's type of death was private, hurtful and personal. She had no right or invitation to go splattering it out for the world to see. I have two children, aged 8 and 11 who have lost the family they knew for the past 7 years; their step dad they lived with and two brothers and are now all exposed to this.

I mentioned earlier that BM made some comment (I have her blocked on Facebook) regarding the failed court system. I have done everything I can to remove this person from my life, including making the incredibly painful decision to cut ties with my step-children because it gets that bad. The amount of horror she has brought on my family for the past seven and a half years is unspeakable.

Since BM has now raised enough money to cover funeral costs, I would ask the article be removed completely, or at the very least be re-edited to remove any personal information regarding my late husband. I ask any further comments about the circumstances of DH and SS14's death cease and desist. There are plenty of videos, recorded phone calls, emails and letters that illustrate the true nature of BM, and if she continues to desecrate my husband's memory she will leave me no choice but to take action, not limited to exposing these documents.