On May 27, 2022, police responded to a residence near Stanwood in Mecosta County, Michigan, and found three children — Katelynn Gillard (6), Ronald Gillard (4), and Joshua Gillard (3) — and their mother Dawn Gillard (40) dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Their father and husband, Charles Robert Gillard Sr. (51), was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and was transported to the hospital in critical condition. He survived and was subsequently charged with four counts of open murder, three counts of first-degree child abuse, two counts of first-degree child abuse committed in the presence of another child, and five counts of felony firearm. He was arraigned and held without bond in the Mecosta County Jail.
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?
Both documents explicitly describe a firearm incident. Document 2 states police responded to "a report of a man with a gun and shots being fired" and that the father "is believed to have turned the firearm on himself." Document 1 references "shooting deaths" and "five counts of felony firearm" among the charges.
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)
Both documents describe the children being shot to death. Document 1 states the children were found "dead from apparent gunshot wounds." Document 2 confirms the children and mother were "found dead from apparent gunshot wounds inside their home." Shooting is 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?
Document 2 states the victims were "presumably" killed "by their father and husband, a 51-year-old male, who then is believed to have turned the firearm on himself, leading to a gunshot wound to the head." Document 1 describes a "self-inflicted gunshot wound." This describes a murder-suicide incident in which the perpetrator survived his suicide attempt.
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?
Both documents identify the perpetrator as the children's father. Document 1 states Gillard faces charges "in the shooting deaths of his wife, Dawn Gillard, 40, and their three children." Document 2 states the victims were killed "presumably by their father and husband."
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?
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?
Document 1 states that "deputies formerly took Charles Robert Gillard Sr., 51, of Stanwood, into custody June 28" and that charges were issued including "four counts of homicide, open murder; three counts of child abuse, first degree; two counts of child abuse, first degree, committed in the presence of another child; and five counts of felony firearm." It also states "Gillard has been arraigned in the 77th District Court and is being held without bond in the Mecosta County Jail."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The father, Charles Gillard, shot and killed his wife Dawn Gillard along with their three children. The killing of a spouse constitutes intimate partner violence/domestic violence. Document 1 states Gillard faces charges "in the shooting deaths of his wife, Dawn Gillard, 40, and their three children." While the term "domestic violence" is not explicitly used, the act of a husband fatally shooting his wife and children is inherently domestic/family violence.
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?
Document 1 states the perpetrator was found with "a self-inflicted gunshot wound" and Document 2 says he "is believed to have turned the firearm on himself, leading to a gunshot wound to the head." A self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head constitutes a suicide attempt, which is inherently a mental health crisis. While the text does not explicitly discuss mental health diagnoses or treatment, the suicidal act directly implicates the perpetrator's mental health.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Document 1 notes that among the charges are "two counts of child abuse, first degree, committed in the presence of another child," indicating that at least some of the children witnessed the murder of their siblings before being killed themselves. Additionally, Document 2 identifies a surviving half-sister, Hailey Salisbury, described as "the daughter of Dawn Gillard and half-sister of the three young children," who told a local outlet she was "in total shock." The perpetrator survived his suicide attempt and was subsequently charged and arraigned, which is relatively uncommon in familicide cases where perpetrators typically die by suicide.
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