"Jihad Jane" Tried to Commit Suicide: Sources
LaRose's roommate says she may have stolen his passport, as authorities allege
Fables of the Reconstruction
Authorities allege Colleen LaRose a.k.a. "Jihad Jane" was trying to recruit jihadists over the Internet.
The woman accused of trying to recruit terrorists over the Internet tried to commit suicide back in 2005.
Colleen LaRose a.k.a. "Jihad Jane" downed almost a dozen muscle relaxants along with alcohol, according to a police report obtained by CNN. She told police that she had become depressed about the death of her father from cancer.
NBC Philadelphia independently confirmed the apparent suicide attempt through a source Wednesday.
The suicide attempt occurred the same year LaRose moved to Pennsburg, Pa. from Texas. She relocated to the area with friend Kurt Gorman to help him care for his sick father, Gorman told NBC Philadelphia Wednesday.
"She did a very good job taking care of him too," Gorman said.
The Pennsburg man said it's still "hard to believe" his onetime lover and roommate of five years is facing allegations that she tried to help commit acts of terrorism.
LaRose seemed like a normal person who liked to play on the computer and watch TV, according to Gorman.
"I guess you never really know somebody a hundred percent, I guess," Gorman said.
In a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday, authorities claim LaRose communicated with several co-conspirators in Asia, Europe and the U.S. in an effort to assist in committing acts of terrorism.
Gorman said he hasn't heard from LaRose since she vanished in August 2009, which is the same time federal authorities allege the woman left the U.S. for Sweden to wage a jihad against artist Lars Vilks.
The murder was never carried out and LaRose was arrested on Oct. 15, 2009 after returning to Philadelphia.
Gorman says he didn't know what had happened to his former lover until Tuesday when he saw reports of her indictment.
The indictment also alleges LaRose stole a U.S. passport from "K.G." or her roommate Kurt Gorman and brought it to Europe for her co-conspirators to use.
Gorman said his passport is missing and that's it's a "distinct possibility" that LaRose swiped it.
LaRose faces life imprisonment and a $1 million fine if she's convicted in the case. She's due to be arraigned on March 18.
She hasn't tried to contact Gorman, but he says he'd eventually like to hear her side.
"Eventually I'd like to find out some of the reasoning there so, I'll let things pan out," he said.
Posted Wednesday, Mar 10, 2010 - 9:39 PM EST
