Randy Budd took his own life after his wife Sharon was horrifically injured in a similar incident.
Five Michigan teens accused of a throwing a six-pound rock off an overpass have been charged with murder in the death of Kenneth White earlier this month, but it's not the first time lives have been shattered by the prank known as "dinging."
In 2014, Randy Budd was driving on a highway in Pennsylvania with his wife, Sharon, when some kids tossed a rock from the overpass.
The rock struck his wife in the head like a missile. She wasn't expected to survive but did, and has undergone nine surgeries to repair the damage.
In 2016 interview with Inside Edition, Randy Budd described Sharon's injuries and the devastating toll the incident has had on their family.
"They took away the wife that I know and they robbed my kids of their mom," he said.
Later that year, Randy Budd committed suicide.
His sister, Rhonda Williams, now takes care of his wife.
"He snapped and he couldn't take it anymore," she told Inside Edition of her brother's death. "It is a very sad situation."
Williams gave a warning to anyone who is considering doing something like "dinging."
"It is not a prank, it is not a joke, you are going to hurt somebody and you are going to spend the rest of your life in jail."
The teen suspects in this month's Michigan "dinging" case appeared in court Tuesday. They range in age from 15 to 17, but will be charged as adults with second degree murder, malicious destruction of property and conspiracy.
White, a 32-year-old father of four, was riding in the passenger seat of a van driven by his co-worker when the rock went through the windshield and struck him. The two were on their way home from work at the time.
A medical examiner said White died from blunt force trauma after he was hit the face and chest. He suffered a broken skull, brain damage, and a cut on his chest.
His fiancé, Amee Cagle, spoke to reporters and said the teens "took away a child's father and the love of my life."
The teens all entered not guilty pleas in court Wednesday morning and remain in custody. If convicted, they face life in prison.
