Crime, punishment, and the shame of being a Madoff

Safer: How did you react when you-- when you heard that?

Andrew: It was awful. I wish I could say I was shocked, but I wasn't. He had tried to kill himself a little more than a year before. And that was-- was absolutely devastating. And I had tried to talk to him, to understand what he was going through. It was very painful for me and very difficult for me, but I was making it through. And to see him struggling-- and-- and not making it was-- was terrible. We were-- we were very close. He was my best friend. And-- I-- I wanted to help him.

Ruth: The night before he killed himself, there was an awful article in the Wall Street Journal. I mean, I sort of-- I understood, I was going through those agonies of shame and it was terrible. To feel that we were always so proud of who we were and Bernie's success in the industry. It was-- was so difficult.

She blames herself for Mark's suicide. He'd wanted her to cut off all contact with her husband.

Ruth: I just wish, until my dying day, that I had done what he wanted. I don't know if it would have made a difference or not, but if I could change things, at least if I had tried, I would have felt a little better. I don't know if it would have mattered. It's the most awful thing that can happen to anybody. Suicide of a child.

After her son's death Ruth Madoff told her husband she was finished with him -no visits, no phone calls. That decision led to a reconciliation of sorts with Andrew.

Ruth: That's partly why I'm sitting right here. He and Catherine wanted to write this book, they thought it would be good if I was a part of it. And I agreed because I wanted to reconcile.

Neither Ruth nor Andrew will benefit from sales of the book. Catherine Hooper will.

[Safer: You lived just over there...you miss the apartment?

Ruth: Not really.]

She lives a simpler life now - in a three room apartment in South Florida, but she remains Ruth Madoff - lawful wife of the greatest financial criminal in history.

Safer: Why haven't you filed for a divorce from this man?

Ruth: I don't know. It doesn't matter to me-- he's gonna die in prison. I certainly don't wanna find another man these days.

Safer: He'll probably see this interview. Are you concerned about--

Ruth: I was thinking about that. No, I'm not concerned. He should hear it.

Believe her or not, the thousands of victims may have little sympathy for Andrew and Ruth, but it can't be denied that they too are victims of Bernie Madoff.

[Safer: There's Mark and Andrew.

Ruth: In happier times...]

They lost a son and brother and will forever carry the shame of the Madoff name.

Andrew: What he did to me, to my brother, and to my family is unforgivable. What he did to thousands of other people, destroyed their lives--I'll never understand it. And I'll never forgive him for it. And I'll never speak to him again.

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[cchamberlain2088]

this is a deep story

[Cole_West]

While I don't wish anyone to die, I am dismayed that we are even speaking to her. She has no story. She is GUILTY! Her husband admitted everything to save the family... Well that did and didn't work. I regret their child killing himself. It couldn't have been that bad. BUT... BUT, why put her on TV and give her time to garner any sympathy. Any money she received (if she did) should go directly to those who lost out. AND SHAME ON HER FOR hoping we would believe her that she was a victim too.

[TheEthicsGuy]

Today the New York Times published a letter I wrote about Ruth and Andrew Madoff:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/opinion/helping-madoffs-victims.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

I'd be keen to hear your thoughts about it. Thank you.

[cbsblogger]

Somehow all along the lambs should have expected the Madoff's would be taken care of at taxpayer expense. She attempts to portray herself as the victim and the media goes easy on her. There are other monies out there and she likely knows where it is.

Why didn't she and her son just succeed at committing suicide and will the stolen assets to charity? At least someone of need would have benefited instead of permitting the thief's family to benefit. It is an outrage that she received anything.

[MyEthix]

Ruth and her son did not attempt suicide - it was Ruth and Bernie who allegedly attempted suicide. So you've clearly not paid attention to what is going on here at ALL... yet YOU, Sherlock, have deduced that there are 'other monies out there' and she 'likely knows where it is'. Wow. Your astute powers of observation are... A FAIL.

[MyEthix]

Just for clarification, I've been a victim of theft on more than one occasion. I've done work for people who have stolen my time and my creative work - to the tune of thousands of dollars - and I'm not a rich person and could not afford to lose that type of money. I've had people in my home who have walked off with things that were precious to me, irreplaceable items. I've had business partners embezzle funds. I know what it's like to lose EVERYTHING financially because someone lied to me. But that doesn't give me the right to wish people and their entire family dead. That type of attitude does nothing but harm the person harboring those types of emotions. "It's like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die."

[MyEthix]

I am disgusted by what I am reading on these boards. The hate and the vitriol is almost too much to stomach. People saying she should have tried harder to commit suicide? What a bunch of sick people. I hope NONE of you have children. How many of you have ever been betrayed by a loved one? Have you ever been cheated on by a husband? Wife? Boyfriend or girlfriend? How many of you know someone who was killed by their significant other out of the blue because they simply wanted to get rid of them - and they never even had a chance or an inkling that this person they loved was even capable of something of that nature? How many of you have had someone close to your family that you felt you knew like the back of your hand molest either yourself or someone in your family? Ever had an authority figure take advantage of you? Personally, my sister was molested by my father... should I have 'seen it coming' and was I, at 11 years old, guilty by association? Would that apply to my sister as well? Should we be dead because of what our father did? Maybe some of you ought to go look up 'honor killings'... they are a part of certain societies that run cross grain to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - and maybe SOME of you would fit quite well into those societies, judging by your comments on this board? But in THIS society -- in America -- people are INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty. They are NOT guilty simply because someone close to them committed a crime and 'they should have known'. That is a very DANGEROUS, not to mention IGNORANT mentality. People get deceived by those they loved and trusted EVERY DAY!! What absolutely sickens me here is that this is all over MONEY. Money, people!!! Something that can be replaced. LIVES cannot be replaced!!! You want to talk about VICTIMS? Go talk to the people who are still living through 9/11... those people are truly victims. They cannot EVER get their loved ones back, they have to think about how their loved one(s) died... did they jump to their deaths? Did they suffer? They didn't even get to say good-bye... mothers, fathers, children, loved ones who are never coming back. Bernie Madoff has ruined the lives of everyone - including his wife and his children. Ask yourself this question... you who are playing 'God' and you who are just so incredibly smart and all-knowing (I'll bet not a single one of you people who are clearly so perfect has EVER made a mistake or made an error in judgment!)... what will society say about you 100 years from now? 200 years from now? Who, IN THEIR RIGHT MIND, condemns an entire family and wishes death on them because of what ONE person did? Imagine for one moment (I know it's hard... but give it a shot) THAT YOU'RE WRONG! Imagine if they truly knew nothing... what does that make YOU? The pillar of society? Or does it make you the kind of person that people WARN their children about - you become an example of what NOT to be - the very antithesis of compassion and forgiveness. Sorry, but money or the theft of money should not draw the kind of hatred seen on these boards.

[sarksange]

i sent a comment to mr. safer last night, questioning the merits of all the recent maddoff exposure and attention (guite a privilidged opportunity it seems to me). i haven't heard a response. i wondered what the victims feel about this opportunity that they'll never get. i wonder how it makes them feel to see and read all the nonsense comming from the maddoff family. i am appaled that the media feels a need to subject the victims to this gut wrenching exposure. i haven't read all 170+ comments but i would think there are alot of upset victims as well there should be, and how many haven't bothered to comment, probably in shock that these people are given the stage and the exposure. even the nytimes has published an interview. and i can't believe no one questioned the suicide story. took a few pills (can't say how many, one, two maybe) and woke up the next day. suicide, right. no note, no hospital care, nothing to substantiate it. how many victims actually did commit suicide, i wonder. my sympathies to them and all the others who have to live with their tragedies. i hope you neverr have to see the maddoffs on tv or in the news again. though i'm sur that won't happen as long as corporate media can make a buck off of them. enough said, maybe too much, but i can't believe these people were afforded the exposure with no regards to the victims.

[baileyccc]

have you heard her voice and seen the wrinkling on her face, she has to be a 3 pack a day person. NASTY.

[hotsummerday]

I think they should have tried harder to commit suicide. I wish I never have to see her face, nor her children's face ever again.

[Montana5]

She wants to be rid of the shame? How about returning the $2.5 million of other people's money she was allowed to keep? Nah, she's not that ashamed. And will someone at CBS PLEASE buy some Visine for Morley Safer? His eyes look just like my dog's did after he was sprayed by a skunk.