Nevaeh Sadler
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CANDID ID: TX_23_1482
AGE
12   years
STATE
Texas
DATE OF DEATH
2/9/2023
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
Twelve-year-old twin sisters Nevaeh and Heaven Sadler were fatally shot by their father, Larry Thompson, in a murder-suicide in Frost, Navarro County, Texas. The incident was precipitated by an argument between Thompson and his wife, who left the home with her own children and called police. When deputies arrived, Thompson was armed and threatened to harm the twins if anyone tried to remove them. Thompson's mother was inside the home attempting to de-escalate the situation; when she exited, she heard two gunshots. Thompson then killed himself. CPS reported no prior calls to the residence.
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 WFAA news article explicitly describes a firearm incident: "deputies said Thompson was armed with a gun and said he would harm the children if anyone took them away from him" and "Navarro County sheriff's deputies said Thompson fatally shot the girls and then killed himself."

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 WFAA news article states: "Navarro County sheriff's deputies said Thompson fatally shot the girls and then killed himself." The children suffered inflicted gunshot injuries.

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 WFAA news article describes this as "an alleged murder-suicide" and states: "Deputies said twin 12-year-old girls were killed by their father before he turned the gun on himself." Thompson "fatally shot the girls and then killed himself."

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 WFAA news article identifies the perpetrator as the children's biological father: "Deputies said twin 12-year-old girls were killed by their father before he turned the gun on himself." The father is identified as Larry Thompson. The mother, April Sadler, refers to the girls as "My firstborn" and the article states the girls "lived with their father."

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?

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The WFAA news article reports that "Thompson's wife called police after she got into an argument with him and left the house with her children." The wife fled the home with her children and called police, and Thompson subsequently armed himself and made threats against the twin girls, stating "he would harm the children if anyone took them away from him." The pattern of an argument prompting flight from the home, police involvement, and escalation to a hostage/murder-suicide situation is consistent with domestic violence dynamics, though the term is not explicitly used.

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

The WFAA news article describes a hostage situation that preceded the murder-suicide: "When deputies arrived, they said Thompson was armed with a gun and said he would harm the children if anyone took them away from him." Thompson's mother was inside the house with him and the twins, attempting to de-escalate: "Deputies said Thompson's mother was in the house with him and the twin girls, trying to calm them down. When she walked out, authorities said she heard two gunshots." Additionally, CPS explicitly stated they had "never been called to the house," meaning there was no prior child welfare involvement. The fact that both twins died in a single incident (the twin sister Heaven also perished) is also a significant detail. The biological mother, April Sadler, did not have custody of the children and expressed frustration: "They haven't reached out to me to give me answers about what's going on in that house."

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