On February 18, 2024, a 34-year-old mother shot and killed her two children — an 8-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy — with a handgun inside their apartment on Maywood Avenue in Middleton, Wisconsin. The mother also shot the children's 31-year-old father multiple times as he exited the residence; he survived and was hospitalized. The mother then turned the gun on herself and died by suicide, making this a murder-suicide. The children were pronounced deceased in their home. The family had a significant history with child protective services dating back to 2017, including multiple screened-in reports alleging neglect by the mother and a substantiated neglect finding in 2019 that led to court-ordered child welfare proceedings. No criminal charges were filed as the perpetrator was deceased.
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 news article explicitly states: "A 34-year-old woman shot her family members with a handgun inside an apartment on Maywood Avenue." It further states the children "were struck and killed by gunfire."
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 news article states: "Two children, an 8-year-old female and a 5-year-old male, were struck and killed by gunfire." The 90-day report confirms: "Medical professionals determined the injuries were non-accidental in nature. The Initial Assessment completed by the agency found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate physical abuse of the children by their mother." 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 news article states the mother shot and killed both children, then "turned the gun on herself and ended her own life." This is an explicit murder-suicide: the mother killed her children and the children's father was also shot, after which she killed herself.
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?
The 90-day report states: "The Initial Assessment completed by the agency found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate physical abuse of the children by their mother." The news article states: "A 34-year-old woman shot her family members with a handgun" and "the woman, the mother of the children, then turned the gun on herself and ended her own life." The biological mother shot and killed both children.
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)?
The 90-day report documents an extensive CPS history for the family. It details multiple reports: "On October 18, 2023, the agency screened-in a CPS Report alleging neglect of the children by the mother." Additional reports are documented on December 15, 2019 (substantiated neglect leading to CHIPS petition), June 27, 2019 (unsubstantiated), May 6, 2019 (unsubstantiated), and March 24, 2017 (unsubstantiated). Several screened-out reports are also documented in 2017 and 2019.
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 news article quotes Middleton Police Captain Tyler Loether stating: "Domestic violence has no place in our community. The Middleton Police Department remains committed to thoroughly investigating domestic violence incidents and enforcing the law to the fullest extent." This statement was made in direct reference to this incident, in which the mother shot her children and their father. The police explicitly characterized this incident as 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 source material. First, this case involved two child deaths in the same incident — an 8-year-old female and a 5-year-old male — and was a murder-suicide where the mother killed both children, shot their father, and then killed herself. The 90-day report reveals an extensive CPS history spanning from 2017 to 2023, including six screened-in CPS reports (multiple alleging neglect by the mother), a substantiated neglect finding in December 2019 that resulted in a CHIPS (Child in Need of Protection or Services) petition and dispositional order, and a most recent screened-in report just four months before the fatal incident (October 18, 2023) that was unsubstantiated. Despite this extensive history, no services were being provided to the family at the time of the deaths. The 90-day report also notes that after the children's deaths, "The agency closed the case upon completion of the Initial Assessment, and no service referrals were made," which is explained by the fact that both children were deceased and the perpetrator also died. The children's father survived despite being "struck by gunfire multiple times" per the news article.
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