On September 9, 2022, Marcus Edward Milligan, 39, shot and killed his wife Tara Devina Ricker Milligan, 37, and their three children — Teresa (13), Nora (11), and Finn (8) — in their home on Hebron Court in Elk Mills, Cecil County, Maryland. Marcus then called 911, reported that three children and a woman had been shot and were deceased, and told dispatchers he was going to kill himself, before taking his own life. All five victims died from single gunshot wounds, and a semi-automatic handgun was found near Marcus's body. The children were homeschooled and the family were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The family had previously lost a fourth child, Conor, to childhood cancer in 2019, and grief and theological beliefs about reunification in the afterlife may have played a role in the murder-suicide. Deputies had never previously been called to the residence.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The medical examiner report lists cause of death as "Gunshot Wound of Head." The NBC News article states "A semi-automatic handgun was located near the deceased adult male." The People article confirms "All five victims died from single gunshot wounds" and "A semi-automatic handgun was located near the deceased adult male."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The medical examiner report (MD_22_982.pdf) states the cause of death as "Gunshot Wound of Head" with injury description "Subject was shot." Multiple news sources confirm the child was shot by her father. The People article states "All five victims died from single gunshot wounds."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Multiple sources explicitly describe this as a murder-suicide. The Delaware Online article headline reads "Maryland mother, 3 children fatally shot by father in murder-suicide, sheriff confirms." The hsinvisiblechildren.org source states the children "were shot to death as part of a murder-suicide by their father, Marcus Milligan, who also killed their mother." The Delaware Online article states Marcus "told dispatchers the children — ages 8 through 14 — and his wife were dead. He also told them he was going to kill himself as soon as he hung up."
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Multiple sources confirm that the biological father, Marcus Edward Milligan, killed the children. The hsinvisiblechildren.org source states the children "were shot to death as part of a murder-suicide by their father, Marcus Milligan." The Delaware Online article states "39-year-old Marcus Edward Milligan shot his three children and his wife of 14 years." The NBC News article identifies the victims as "Marcus Edward Milligan, 39; Tara Devina Ricker Milligan, 37, and their children Teresa Milligan, 14; Nora Milligan, 11 and Finn Milligan, 8."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
The hsinvisiblechildren.org source explicitly states: "The children were homeschooled."
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
The hsinvisiblechildren.org source states: "The Milligans' fourth child, Conor Milligan (2015-2019), died of childhood cancer." This is a separate incident from the murder-suicide that killed Teresa and her other siblings.
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The father, Marcus Milligan, shot and killed his wife Tara before killing the children and himself. The Delaware Online article states: "Before turning a gun on himself, 39-year-old Marcus Edward Milligan shot his three children and his wife of 14 years." The killing of a spouse constitutes domestic violence, even though the term is not explicitly used in the sources. There is no reference to a history of domestic violence prior to this incident; the People article notes "deputies had never been called to the residence prior to Friday."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The hsinvisiblechildren.org source states that "grief and theological beliefs may have played a role in the murders," referencing the earlier death of the Milligans' fourth child, Conor, from childhood cancer. The NBC News article describes Marcus as being "almost catatonic" during the 911 call and showing "little emotion." While no specific mental health diagnosis is named, grief as a possible motive and the description of a catatonic state suggest the father's mental or emotional health may have been a factor.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the sources. The Milligans had a fourth child, Conor Milligan, who died of childhood cancer in 2019, three years and one week before the murder-suicide. The hsinvisiblechildren.org source states that "grief and theological beliefs may have played a role in the murders," noting that family and friends' statement that "the reunion [in heaven] is a beautiful one for the family" suggests these beliefs influenced Marcus's actions. Additionally, Marcus himself called 911 to report the killings and told dispatchers "he was going to kill himself as soon as he hung up" (Delaware Online). The People article notes "deputies had never been called to the residence prior to Friday," indicating no prior law enforcement involvement. The absence of any known warning signs, prior calls, or identifiable motive—combined with the potential role of grief and religious beliefs about reunification in the afterlife—makes this case notable from a prevention and risk-assessment perspective.
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