On May 27, 2022, at approximately 2:30 p.m., police responded to a residence near Stanwood in Mecosta County, Michigan, after reports of a man with a gun and shots being fired. Officers found three children — Katelynn Gillard (6), Ronald Gillard (4), and Joshua Gillard (3) — and their mother, Dawn Gillard (40), dead from apparent gunshot wounds inside their home. Their father and husband, Charles Robert Gillard Sr. (51), was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He survived after being transported through multiple hospitals and was subsequently arrested on June 28 and 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.
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 1 states the victims were found "dead from apparent gunshot wounds" and lists "five counts of felony firearm" among the charges. Document 2 reports "authorities responded to a report of a man with a gun and shots being fired at a residence."
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 confirm the children were killed by gunshot wounds inflicted by their father. Document 1 states Gillard "faces multiple felony charges in the shooting deaths of his wife, Dawn Gillard, 40, and their three children." Document 2 states officers "discovered three children – all under the age of 10 – and their mother dead" from "apparent gunshot wounds." The charges include "three counts of child abuse, first degree."
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 killed "presumably 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 the father's injury as "a self-inflicted gunshot wound." Although the father survived the suicide attempt, this clearly describes a murder-suicide incident.
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 biological father of the three children. 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: "deputies formerly took Charles Robert Gillard Sr., 51, of Stanwood, into custody June 28. Gillard faces multiple felony charges in the shooting deaths of his wife, Dawn Gillard, 40, and their three children." The charges include "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." He was arraigned and held without bond.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
While the term 'domestic violence' is not explicitly used in the text, the incident itself constitutes an extreme act of domestic violence: a father/husband shooting and killing his wife and three young children in their home. Document 2 states the victims were killed "presumably by their father and husband, a 51-year-old male, who then is believed to have turned the firearm on himself." The familial murder is inherently domestic 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?
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 documents that are not directly covered by preceding questions: (1) The charges include "two counts of child abuse, first degree, committed in the presence of another child" (Document 1), suggesting some of the children may have witnessed the killing of their siblings before being killed themselves. (2) The perpetrator survived his self-inflicted gunshot wound and was subsequently arrested and charged, which is uncommon in murder-suicide cases. (3) A surviving adult half-sister, Hailey Salisbury (Dawn Gillard's daughter from another relationship), publicly spoke about the tragedy, as described in Document 2.
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