Timothy Bruce Ragas
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CANDID ID: LA_23_1970
AGE
13   years
STATE
Louisiana
DATE OF DEATH
2/9/2023
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On February 9, 2023, thirteen-year-old Timothy Bruce Ragas was found dead of gunshot wounds along with his 20-year-old brother Eric Thornblom and their parents Timothy Earl Ragas (43) and Joanna Ragas in their home in Harvey, Louisiana. The father had called 911, crying that he "can't live like this anymore" and telling the dispatcher "You'll find four bodies when you get here." Authorities found notes and weapons inside the home and described the incident as an apparent murder-suicide. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said evidence indicated the parents may have worked together to shoot the children and then themselves, apparently motivated by financial pressure. The home was in deplorable condition, possibly without active electricity, with visible roof damage, and neighbors described it as appearing uninhabited.
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 news article states: "Police said that all of them were found dead of gunshot wounds." It also mentions that authorities found "notes along with weapons" inside the home. The deaths were caused by firearm(s).

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 news article states: "Police said that all of them were found dead of gunshot wounds." The sheriff also said "the parents may have worked together to shoot the children and then themselves." The 13-year-old child was killed by gunshot, constituting 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 article repeatedly describes the incident as a murder-suicide. The headline itself reads "apparent murder-suicide," and the sheriff stated that the notes and weapons indicate "some type of murder-suicide." The sheriff further said "the parents may have worked together to shoot the children and then themselves."

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?

The article identifies Timothy Earl Ragas as one of the parents and the 13-year-old as Timothy Bruce Ragas. The shared surname strongly implies a biological father-son relationship. The sheriff stated "the parents may have worked together to shoot the children and then themselves," directly implicating the father in the child's death.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Joanna Ragas is identified as one of the parents. The sheriff stated: "Some of the information could make me believe they decided to do this together, the parents" and "the parents may have worked together to shoot the children and then themselves." While her biological relationship to Timothy Bruce Ragas is not explicitly stated, she is identified as one of his parents and is implicated in the killings.

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)?

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?

The father's 911 call — "We can't live like this anymore" and "You'll find four bodies when you get here" — along with his repeatedly calling emergency services while crying, suggests a state of severe mental distress. The sheriff attributed the motive to financial pressure leading to a "destitute situation" where "they took it into their own hands." While no formal mental health diagnosis is mentioned, the context of a parent deciding to kill the entire family and themselves implies significant mental health crisis.

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Notable Details

The news article contains several notable details: Timothy Earl Ragas, the father, was a former patrol deputy for the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office from July 2011 to June 2020, meaning a former law enforcement officer perpetrated this murder-suicide. The home was in "deplorable" condition, possibly without active electricity, with visible roof damage and vines covering the front. Neighbors said the house appeared abandoned — "I never saw a light in the house. It was always dark." Additionally, the father specifically told 911 dispatchers where they would find the family dog, Faye, during the call. The children's remains were found in a separate location from the parents' bodies in their bedroom.

Lives Cut Short