Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

The fatality report states "the mother fatally shot the children then turned the gun on herself." The OregonLive article confirms "Ashley Palmer, 31, of Gresham, daughter Kayleana Beatrice Palmer, 6, and son Xavier Rayvaughn Danger Palmer, 8, died from gunshot wounds in a murder-suicide."

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

The fatality report's December 23, 2020 assessment notes that the mother was alleged to have left her children home alone while driving her partner to work. "The older child told the CPS caseworker the mother had left them and their younger sibling home alone on one occasion to pick up the mother's current partner." At the time, the children were 6 and 4 years old. Additionally, the legal parent admitted to briefly leaving the children unsupervised to walk the dog outside. These incidents are not directly related to the fatal incident but constitute mentions of inappropriate supervision.

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

The fatality report states "police determined the mother fatally shot the children then turned the gun on herself, completing suicide." The KGW article confirms "Palmer apparently shot her children, 8-year-old Xavier Palmer and 6-year-old Kayleana Palmer, and then took her own life." The children died from gunshot wounds inflicted by their mother.

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

The fatality report states the mother "fatally shot the children then turned the gun on herself, completing suicide." The OregonLive article explicitly identifies the deaths as "a murder-suicide." The KGW article states "The Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office determined that the case was a murder-suicide."

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

The fatality report states that the mother "sent messages that appeared to indicate the children may have been sexually abused." Additionally, the April 28, 2022 assessment describes the mother reporting her younger child "was playing with a male friend of the mother's and had asked him to tickle their privates" and she found "the younger child laying on top of a same age peer and touching their privates." The mother also "stated her older child had made concerning statements about genitals." However, the younger child denied anyone had touched their privates, the children's therapist reported no concerning disclosures, and no forensic assessment was completed, so the allegations remain unconfirmed.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

The fatality report consistently refers to Ashley Palmer as "the mother" throughout the document and states "police determined the mother fatally shot the children then turned the gun on herself, completing suicide." The OregonLive article identifies Ashley Palmer as the mother of both children. She is the perpetrator of the murder-suicide.

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

The fatality report documents an extensive history of CPS reports prior to the children's deaths, including: December 21, 2020 (physical abuse and threat of harm by legal parent, unfounded); December 23, 2020 (neglect by mother, unfounded); February 17, 2021 (neglect by legal parent, closed at screening); July 20, 2021 (neglect by legal parent, unfounded); September 15, 2021 (mental injury and neglect by legal parent, unfounded); September 18, 2021 (physical abuse by legal parent, unfounded); October 12, 2021 (threat of harm by a relative, closed at screening); and April 28, 2022 (neglect by legal parent, unfounded with an open assessment at time of the children's deaths).

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The OregonLive article states: "Jenavie Palmer sought to divide parenting equally, saying in a court filing that Ashley Palmer had been charged with domestic violence against her when the couple lived in Idaho, but the charge had been pleaded down to disturbing the peace." Additionally, the fatality report's December 21, 2020 assessment describes the legal parent as being "physically and emotionally abusive to the children while drinking," though this was denied and unfounded.

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Mental health of both parents is extensively referenced. The fatality report states the mother "had mental health challenges, and her functioning had declined over the past six months," she "experienced suicidal ideation two to three months prior to the children's deaths" and "had driven to the woods with the intention of completing suicide." The mother "shared that she had some mental health conditions for which she was prescribed medication." Regarding the legal parent, the reports state they "had struggled with depression in the past and had asked the mother to remove a firearm from the home when they were experiencing suicidal ideation" and "was not consistently taking their mental health medications." The July 20, 2021 report states the legal parent was "experiencing suicidal ideation and threatening self-harm."

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

The OregonLive article reports that in a court filing, Jenavie Palmer stated "Ashley Palmer had been charged with domestic violence against her when the couple lived in Idaho, but the charge had been pleaded down to disturbing the peace." This domestic violence charge predates and is separate from the current fatal incident.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report's December 21, 2020 assessment states the legal parent "was said to have a history of alcoholism" and concerns were raised about relapse: "the reporter was concerned they were drinking again." The legal parent denied the allegation, stating "they were sober for two years." There were also concerns about the legal parent's new partner being seen intoxicated.

Several notable systemic and circumstantial details are present. The fatality report notes there was an open CPS assessment (the April 28, 2022 report) at the time of the children's deaths. The CIRT identified that "there were two reports assigned for CPS assessment in which additional communication between the screener and the CPS caseworker was needed" and noted "the challenges for caseworkers to be able to understand and assess mental health, risk factors associated with mental health and if/how they impact child safety." The KGW article reports a significant delay in the police welfare check: Jenavie Palmer "called police after midnight Tuesday to request the welfare check, but police said the call did not necessarily indicate an urgent danger, and they said they were initially given the wrong address," and "it took two more calls to try and gain entry at the apartment complex before police discovered the bodies around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday." The OregonLive article describes an increasingly contentious custody battle, including two requests for immediate danger orders (one granted then rescinded, one denied on the day it was filed). A maternal relative reported the mother had driven to the woods intending to die by suicide two to three months before the incident but did not follow through, and no intervention resulted from this disclosure.