August 21, 2002

Section: Metro

Edition: FINAL

Page: 1

Infection claims life of Mansfield lawyer

BILL TEETER

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH--An aggressive bacterial infection after a horseback riding accident took the life Monday of Suzanne Krouse, a Mansfield lawyer and former Tarrant County assistant district attorney.

Mrs. Krouse, 47, was the wife of Tarrant County Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Marc Krouse.

Her infection began after she jammed her left thumb while her horse jumped during an English-saddle riding session July 27, Marc Krouse said. She aggravated the injury during a riding competition the next day, he said.

On Aug. 1, a doctor treating Mrs. Krouse admitted her to Arlington Memorial Hospital because of apparent symptoms of shock, Marc Krouse said. Mrs. Krouse's condition deteriorated as a streptococcus infection progressed and gangrene set in. Doctors amputated her hand in an effort to save her life, he said.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy, but the results are pending, Marc Krouse said. Her body was sent to Dallas to avoid questions of personal and professional conflicts by Tarrant County medical examiner personnel who knew her well, he said.

Suzanne Marie Skolaut was born in Topeka, Kan., and graduated from Paschal High School in Fort Worth. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and a law degree from the University of Utah Law School.

She worked for the Tarrant County district attorney's office from January 1990 to November 1991, county records show. She was handling felony cases when she left to go into private practice, Assistant District Attorney David Montague said.

The Krouses met while working on criminal cases in Tarrant County courts, Marc Krouse said. When they met, she had two children from a previous marriage -- Angela Emerson, 18, of Lubbock, and Monica Truelson, 22, of Dallas. The Krouses had two children, Marc Andrew, 8, Emily Elizabeth, 6, and lived in Mansfield.

Mrs. Krouse thrived despite several struggles in her life. She made it through law school with two children in tow and later overcame depression and alcoholism, Marc Krouse said. She had been sober 2 1/2 years and was active in an alcohol recovery program, he said.

"She persevered. She went to law school with two young children, took care of them, and persevered through some rough times," Marc Krouse said. "She seemed willing to give it a shot and make it work. Even when she was dreadfully ill, she didn't give up. A lot of people would have been dead a week before she was."

She rode horses when she was younger and recently resumed the sport, Marc Krouse said. She also loved sailing, he said.

Tarrant County Medical Examiner Nizam Peerwani said he knew the couple well.

"She was always very supportive of Marc," Peerwani said. "She took a lot of pride in Marc and what he did. She was a very good spirit. We'll really miss her."

Larry Anderson, morgue director in Tarrant County, said Mrs. Krouse "helped me with legal problems and never charged a dime. I lost a good friend."

A vigil service is scheduled for 7 tonight at Baumgardner Funeral home, 3704 Highway 377 S. in Fort Worth. A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Church in Arlington. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery.

Besides her husband and children, Mrs. Krouse is survived by her father, J.W. Skolaut of Fort Worth.

ONLINE: www.nnff.org.

Bill Teeter, (817) 390-7757 bteeter@star-telegram.com