On December 12, 2023, 12-year-old Adelia Briner was shot and killed by her biological mother, Naomi Briner (age 35), in their home on Telegraph Hill Road in rural Jefferson County, Indiana. The cause of death was a perforating gunshot wound of the head. Adelia's two siblings — Leland Briner (age 8) and Iyla Briner (age 6) — were also shot and killed by their mother in the same incident. The mother was on a virtual call with the father of two of the children when she shot herself. After shooting the three children, the mother started a fire in the home and then died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Emergency responders found the house engulfed in flames upon arrival and all four individuals were pronounced deceased at the scene. The Jefferson County Prosecutor concluded that Naomi Briner was responsible for the deaths of all three children and herself.
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 vital records report (INME_2023_AB.pdf) lists cause of death as "PERFORATING GUNSHOT WOUND OF HEAD" with ICD-10 code X95 (assault by other and unspecified firearm discharge). The DCS report (INDCS_2023_AB.pdf) states the children "died from gunshot wounds" and "the mother shot the children." The news article also confirms "all three children sustained gunshot wounds."
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 vital records report (INME_2023_AB.pdf) states the cause of death was "PERFORATING GUNSHOT WOUND OF HEAD" with manner of death listed as "Homicide." The DCS fatality report (INDCS_2023_AB.pdf) confirms "the mother shot the children." This constitutes an inflicted injury.
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?
The DCS report (INDCS_2023_AB.pdf) states: "the mother shot the children, started a fire in the home, and then shot herself." The news article confirms the coroner's office "listed the manner and cause of death of Naomi Briner to be from a self-inflicted gunshot wound" and the prosecutor found "the evidence indicates that Naomi Briner was responsible for the deaths of the three children and herself." This is a clear murder-suicide.
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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The DCS fatality report (INDCS_2023_AB.pdf) explicitly lists "Perpetrator: Mother" and states "the mother shot the children, started a fire in the home, and then shot herself." The news article identifies the mother as "Naomi Briner, 35" and confirms she "was the biological mother of the three children."
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?
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)?
The DCS fatality report (INDCS_2023_AB.pdf) states: "Number of previous substantiated assessments for victim: 1, for the 12-year-old girl." This indicates a prior child protection report that was substantiated before the child's death.
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)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
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?
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 text. First, the DCS report (INDCS_2023_AB.pdf) states the mother committed the murder-suicide "while on a virtual call with the father of two of the children," meaning the father may have witnessed part of the event remotely. Second, the mother also set the home on fire after shooting the children and before shooting herself, as stated in the DCS report: "the mother shot the children, started a fire in the home, and then shot herself." Third, two additional siblings — Leland Briner, 8, and Iyla Briner, 6 — were also killed in the same incident. Fourth, the DCS report notes a data quality issue: "sex is reported incorrectly for the other two children vs. what is available through the medical examiner report."
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