Stunning story. 

My heartfelt sympathy is extended to husband, Larry Kelly.

Entrepreneurs often reap the greatest rewards when they weld themselves to their enterprises...heart and soul (and bear at least part of the responsibility of the resulting broken marriages.)  I speak from experience. So, I  groaned aloud reading this sad tale. 

So, what are the lessons here we can learn about business, the people who run them, the people who rely on them for their own incomes?

"But now that I see the books and now when I look back at financial statements, I realized, holy cow..."  That's one. Sharing and clarity--and concern when neither are present. 

"...many journalists and designers...were owed thousands of dollars for work completed years earlier, and had been relying on the payments to pay bills of their own."  That's another.  Freelancers & contract workers, in ALL sectors: take care of yourselves! Don't wait; take action. Visit in person and DEMAND payment--be the squeakiest wheel.