The Shocking Story of a College Student Accused of Assisting in a Suicide
College Student Accused of Assisting in a Suicide Faces up to Two Years in Prison
A Texas college student allegedly drove his ex-girlfriend to a local park knowing she planned to kill herself. Zander Tashman, 18, has been charged with assisting in a suicide, a felony that carries a sentence of up to two years in prison if convicted. He is charged in connection with the death of Elysse Suarez, his ex-girlfriend whose body was found floating in a pond at a local park on Nov. 20, 2023. The medical examiner later ruled her death a suicide.
Police Investigation and Alleged Lies by the Accused
Earlier that same day, officers with the Elm Ridge Police Department (ERPD) were called to the home of Suarez by her parents, according to the arrest warrant obtained by Inside Edition Digital. Suarez had run away from home, said her parents, who also mentioned that the high school student struggled with depression, according to the warrant. After speaking with the family, officers made multiple attempts to contact Tashman, but he did not answer his phone, according to the warrant. Officers with the Frisco Police Department (FPD) finally made contact with Tashman at his home around 1:54 a.m. to see if he had any information about Suarez or where she might be, according to the warrant. Tashman told officers he had been sleeping after answering the door, and said he last spoke to Suarez “maybe like days ago,” according to the warrant.
Suspicious Activity and Search for the Truth
Officers then searched the home after obtaining Tashman’s permission but found no signs of Suarez, according to the warrant. Eight hours later, FPD officers were dispatched to the Frisco Commons Park following a report of suspicious activity. They arrived at 10:17 a.m. to find a lifeless body floating in a pond, according to the warrant. That individual was later identified as Elysse Suarez. Officers again made contact with Tashman at his home shortly after 5 p.m. that evening, according to the warrant.
Discovery of Alleged Text Messages and Tragic Conversations
An investigation of Tashman’s cell phone allegedly revealed that he and Suarez had been texting about her desire and attempts to take her own life for at least a month, according to the warrant. In one exchange, Suarez wrote to Tashman, “I’m gonna try one more, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll ask my mom to take me to a hospital; you have to make me call her, or I won’t. I’m sorry I keep asking you to do all of these f***** up things,” according to the warrant. On Nov. 14, Suarez allegedly wrote to Tashman about her latest plan to take her own life, according to the warrant.
Admission of Guilt and Tragic Circumstances
On Nov. 22, Tashman contacted police with new details about the night Suarez took her own life, according to the affidavit. “The truth is that I was actually with her that night, and she had told me everything she wanted to do,” Tashman allegedly told police, according to the warrant. He also allegedly said that Suarez told him she “was going to do it no matter what,” and that he wanted to “respect her wishes” and not “betray her,” according to the affidavit. Tashman then allegedly told police that he drove Suarez to Frisco Commons Park on the night she took her life, according to the warrant. He allegedly said he “couldn’t let her do it alone,” and told police she “left with a smile,” according to the affidavit.
Legal Defense and Denial of Accusations
Reynie Tinajero, the attorney for Tashman and his family, said in a statement: “Zander and his family wish this horrible tragedy had never taken place either. I’m sorry authorities made a poor and probably emotional choice to blame Zander and to do so in a public way. We’ll be making our case in a court of law. Zander is an exemplary college student with no prior history of criminal behavior. Zander is innocent.” Tashman has not yet entered a plea.