Six-year-old Jackson Richard Coulter Spader died on February 19, 2024, in a house fire at his home in Ferguson, Missouri, which was ruled a murder-suicide. His mother, Bernadine "Birdie" Pruessner, intentionally set a mattress on fire at approximately 4:30 a.m. while her four children were in the home. A suicide note was found stating Pruessner's intentions to take her own life and the lives of her children. Jackson's three siblings — twins Ellie and Ivy Pruessner (age 9) and Millie Spader (age 2) — also died in the fire, as did Pruessner herself. The medical examiner determined Jackson's cause of death to be thermal injury and inhalation of products of combustion, and the manner of death was ruled homicide. Pruessner had been engaged in contentious custody disputes with the fathers of her children and was described by her family as having reached "an awful place" due to the stress of ongoing litigation.
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?
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)
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?
Both news articles explicitly state the incident was ruled a murder-suicide. The NY Post article states: "the St. Louis County Police Department confirmed that investigators ruled the fire a murder-suicide." The NBC News article similarly states: "A massive house fire in Missouri that killed a woman and her four children is believed to have been a murder-suicide, police said." The mother, Bernadine Pruessner, intentionally set a fire that killed her four children and herself, with a note left stating her intentions.
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?
Bernadine Pruessner was the biological mother of Jackson Spader and was determined to have intentionally set the fire that killed him. The NY Post article states: "It is believed that Bernadine intentionally set a mattress on fire as that was the point of origin for the fire. A note was also left stating Bernadine's intentions to take her life and the lives of her children." The NBC News article confirms she was the mother and started the blaze.
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?
While no specific mental health diagnosis is named, the mother's mental state is clearly referenced. The NBC News article quotes the family statement: "Birdie got to an awful place, one that resulted in tragic consequences" and "she got to that darkness as a result of spurious litigation and unfounded allegations." The NY Post article similarly notes she was in an "awful place" due to "ongoing litigation." Her attorney stated: "apparently I missed every sign," implying concerning mental health indicators. The act of murder-suicide itself, combined with a note left "stating Bernadine's intentions to take her life and the lives of her children," reflects a severe mental health crisis. Ferguson Police Chief referred to "the unseen battles some of our neighbors are fighting."
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 that are not captured by the preceding questions. The mother, Bernadine Pruessner, was a former Missouri Teacher of the Year (2013) and a professor at Lewis & Clark Community College, earning "less than $60,000 a year." She was simultaneously engaged in contentious custody battles with two different ex-partners — David Pruessner (father of twins Ellie and Ivy) and Jared Spader (father of Jackson and Millie). Per the NY Post, her attorney Nathan Cohen claimed the two fathers "coordinated their efforts" against her. The family statement described how "each day that Birdie would score a step forward, her ex-husband and or her former boyfriend would undertake an action to denigrate or undermine her role as a mother." Cohen noted she struggled financially to keep up with litigation costs. Hours before the fire, she posted on Facebook: "All my kids, peacefully sleeping in my bed…Knowing they are loved so fiercely that I'd do absolutely anything for them." A suicide note was also recovered. The case raises systemic questions about the toll of protracted custody litigation on parents' mental health and the potential for family court processes to contribute to dangerous escalation.
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