Man Dies While Trying to "Open His Heart" to Jesus

Milwaukee, WI - Thirty-two year-old Milwaukee resident (and self-proclaimed punk-rocker) James O'Bannon Jr. bled to death at Froedtert Hospital Sunday afternoon, after a botched heart surgery.

Mr. O'Bannon's mother, fifty-nine year-old Denise O'Bannon of Madison, said that for years she's been telling her son to "open his heart to Jesus," but she never thought he'd take her advice, let alone so literally. "I just don't understand it. Since he was thirteen, I have been struggling with him to try to help him find his way again; to find Jesus, our Lord and Savior. I'd always say `Jim, just open your heart to Jesus, and you'll be happier. That punk music is of the devil. Jesus will forgive you if you just give it up and take interest in him instead.` He'd always argue with me. And now, nineteen years later, he's dead because of my advice."

Mr. James O'Bannon Sr. said that his son had struggled for a long-time to find happiness. "He was always losing jobs, finding new ones, losing them, etc. The same thing happened with women. Denise always told him that he'd be happier in life if he just `opened his heart to Jesus.` Jesus Christ! I didn't think he'd take it so literally!"

James O'Bannon Jr. was admitted into Froedtert Hospital late Saturday night to prepare for open-heart surgery. The surgery was considered cosmetic, due to the fact that doctors found nothing wrong with his heart, a fact that his mother contests. "He had heart-problems. Women problems. He had a broken heart. Jesus problems. No God in his life," said Mrs. O'Bannon.

James Jr. is survived by his three-year old Pekingnese, Jelly.