Category: Type: Multiple Homicide

Intentional killing with multiple victims in one incident.

Ruth Maclaren

Photo of a girl with tan skin and straight, chin-length black hair, smiling fo the camera and squinting into the sun. She is wearing a white turtleneck sweater, and has pink barrettes in her hair.Name: Ruth Jennifer Maclaren.
Died: March 25, 2023.
Age at death: 35.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Englewood, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, epilepsy, porencephaly.

Details:
Ruth and her mother Bethany were killed by her father with an axe; their bodies were found dismembered and stuffed into trash cans. Ruth’s father confessed to the crime, saying that he had lost his job, was worried the family was going to be homeless, and didn’t regret his actions because they were “in a better place”.

Case Status:
Reginald Mclaren (Father), convicted of two counts of murder.

Sources:
83-year-old man found guilty of killing his wife and daughter with an ax
Hearing undermines motive claimed by ax-murder suspect: Reginald Maclaren told police he feared homelessness for family, but circumstances don’t match
Victim in ax killings had cerebral palsy, autopsy shows
Obituary for Ruth J. Maclaren at Marshall’s Mortuary and Cremation Service
Reginald MacLaren charged with 2 counts of murder in deaths of wife and daughter
Elderly man tells police he killed family to avoid homelessness
Mother, daughter murdered in Englewood honored with a vigil

Patrice Johnson

Photo of a young woman with brown skin and dark, short hair. She has large eyes and a square jaw, and is leaning on someone to the right of the photo. A hand supports her chin.Name: Patrice Johnson.
Died: November 18, 2022.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Springfield Gardens, Queens, New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
When Patrice’s aide arrived at her house, they found her dead, along with her aunt and stepmother. Patrice’s nephew was arrested on suspicion of having stabbed all three women to death after an argument.

Police say that Patrice’s stepmother, 65-year-old Hyacinth Brown-Johnson, died trying to protect her. Also killed was Latoya Gordon, 47, Hycainth’s daughter.

Case Status:
Jabari Burrell (Nephew), charged with three counts of first-degree and second-degree murder, grand larceny, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Sources:
Brooklyn Man Charged In Triple Homicide
Suspect arrested in fatal stabbings of grandmother, 2 aunts: sources
Queens killer fatally stabs three relatives in Springfield Gardens home; cops seek fugitive family member
Queens triple murder: Mom, daughter and disabled stepdaughter stabbed to death, hunt on for family member
Suspect in Queens triple homicide reveals grisly details on slays: sources
UPDATE: Relative arrested in Friday triple killing
Family member of Queens murder victims charged in their deaths: Police
Queens man wanted for fatally stabbing family members arrested in Virginia covered in blood
Gran shielded stepdaughter as nephew allegedly stabbed pair to death
Relative arrested in Friday triple killing

Bernadette, Lisa, and Matthew Steadman

Name: Bernadette A. Steadman.
Age at death: 92.
Disability: Chronic illness; wheelchair user. 

Name: Lisa B. Steadman.
Age at death: 60.
Disability: Chronic illness.

Name: Matthew Steadman.
Age at death: 34.
Disability: Autism.

Died: October 15, 2022.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Elyria, Ohio, USA.

Details:
After a man called 911, saying he had killed his family and was going to kill himself, police responded to his address and found the whole family shot dead. Matthew, the youngest at 34, was autistic; his mother Lisa, 60, and grandmother Bernadette, had chronic illness. They had all been killed by their caregiver, who died by suicide before police arrived.

The family lived in a quiet mobile home park, well-liked by their neighbors, one of whom says she used to call Bernadette “Grandma”. The family had recently added a ramp to their home so that Bernadette and Lisa could maneuver in and out of the home more easily.

Case Status:
James Steadman (Son/Husband/Father), deceased.

 Photo of an elderly woman with wispy white chin-length hair and pale skin.
Photo of a middle-aged woman with brown hair growing out into gray roots, wearing glasses; she has pale skin, and is smiling for the camera.
Portrait photo of a young man smiling for the camera; he has curly brown hair and is wearing glasses.

Sources:
‘I’m in shock’: Police release identities, details in the murder-suicide of Elyria family
Family of 4 found dead in Elyria home after apparent murder-suicide – cleveland.com
Elyria police identify victims of murder-suicide
Autism Memorial: Matthew Steadman

Louise Nash

Somewhat blurred photo of a teenage girl with a round face, tan skin, and frizzy black hair tied back in a ponytail. She is wearing a dark zip-up sweater and a seat belt stretches across her chest. Her expression is neutral and relaxed, eyes half-closed.Name: Louise Nash.
Died: September 8, 2022.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Great Waldingfield, Suffolk, England, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Louise and her mother Jillu lived in Suffolk, where Louise attended a special-needs school. Louise’s parents lived in India, and the mother and daughter sometimes went to visit them. They were well-known to neighbors, who remember them always waving from their car when they drove past.

Someone called the authorities, worried about Louise and Jillu, and police went to check on them. They found Louise and Jillu dead, a gas leak in the home, and Louise’s father, badly injured and immediately taken to the hospital, who they suspect is responsible for the killings. The neighborhood had to be evacuated while the gas leak was repaired, but no one else was hurt.

Case Status:
Peter Nash (Father), convicted of murder; sentenced to 40 years to life.

Sources:
Man handed life prison sentence for murders of wife and daughter, 12
Suffolk double murder: Man called wife ‘validated cheater’
Ipswich Crown Court shown footage of Great Waldingfield family murder accused, Peter Nash, referring to 12-year-old daughter as his ‘property’ in video recorded by wife before her death
After Neely homicide, mental health workers explain what to do if someone is in crisis on the subway
Murder trial set to enter closing stages
Husband who murdered wife and daughter thought they were his ‘property’
Man faces mandatory life sentence for murder of wife and daughter
Autism Memorial: Louise Nash
Tributes paid to ‘devoted’ mum and her daughter, 12, found at home dead
Council chair speaks of shock after suspected double murder
Injured man arrested over deaths of a mother and her 12-year-old daughter
Family of ‘murdered’ mother and daughter, 12, tell of ‘utter despair’
Dad ‘stabbed severely disabled daughter, 12, to death and strangled wife’
Father in court after being charged with murder of wife and kid
Man ‘killed wife and autistic daughter’
Husband ‘stabbed autistic daughter & strangled his wife who was leaving him’
Man accused of double murder ‘confessed to psychiatrist’, court told

Jasbir and Kamaljit Kaur

No PhotoName: Jasbir Kaur.
Age at death: 81.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Name: Kamaljit Kaur.
Age at death: 55.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Died: February 7, 2022.
Cause of death: Laceration/Blood loss.
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Details:
Jasbir and Kamaljit were found dead at their home after their Jasbir’s husband, Kamaljit’s father, reportedly called a family member and told her that he had killed them, that he did not want to “see their pain”. The family member called police, who made the arrest.

Case Status:
Purushottam Singh Gandhok (Husband), arrested and charged with murder.

Sources:
A 90-year-old Purshottam Singh Gandhok justifies the killing of his wife and daughter
A 90-year-old murderer getting better in Arthur Road jail
Ex-Army Man Slits Throats Of Bedridden Wife, Daughter In Mumbai
Wanted To End My Life: Senior Who Killed Wife And Daughter | Mumbai News – Times of India
Mumbai: 89-year-old ex-Army man slits throats of ailing wife, daughter
Mumbai: Fed up of their health issues, 89-year-old man kills wife, mentally unwell daughter
‘I killed them both, was not able to do all the household chores’

Ashton and Ethan Yap

Flowers left at a green railing in front of a shallow canal. There are three bouquets of yellow flowers and a line of white roses.Name: Ashton Yap Kai Shern.
Name: Ethan Yap E Chern.

Died: January 21, 2022.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Singapore.
Disability: ADHD, autism.

Details:
Ashton and Ethan were twin brothers whose bodies were found in a canal near a playground. Their father was arrested on suspicion of having killed them.

Case Status:
Xavier Yap Jung Houn (Father), convicted of 2 counts of culpable homicide, sentenced to 14 years.

Sources:
Father gets 14 years in jail for killing autistic twin sons
Greenridge Cres killings: Father of twin boys to plead guilty to culpable homicide not amounting to murder
Man, 49, to plead guilty to culpable homicide for strangling twin sons, 11, in Upper Bukit Timah
Death of Upper Bukit Timah twins: Father to plead guilty to culpable homicide
Dad Accused of Killing His 2 Sons at Greenridge Playground Has Murder Charges Reduced to Culpable Homicide
Dad accused of strangling Singapore twin sons no longer facing the death penalty | Coconuts
Man who allegedly strangled twin sons gets murder charges reduced to culpable homicide » Borneo Bulletin Online
Twins found dead in Upper Bukit Timah canal: Father handed second murder charge
Autism Memorial: Ashton and Ethan Yap
Twins found dead in Upper Bukit Timah canal: Father accused of murder hires new lawyers
More Details Have Emerged About the Murder of the 2 Greenridge Crescent Boys
Greenridge Crescent boys’ deaths: 48-year-old father faces second murder charge
Twins found dead: SG Enable urges stressed caregivers of children with special needs to seek help | The Straits Times
Bodies of 11-year-old twins found in canal near Upper Bukit Timah playground | The Straits Times
Caregivers of children with special needs ‘may face burnout or feel emotionally burdened’: SG Enable
Father arrested after twin boys found dead in Upper Bukit Timah canal, to be charged with murder | The Straits Times
Twin Boys With Special Needs Found Dead In Canal, Father Charged With Murder
9 New Facts About the Twin Boys Murder Found in Upper Bukit Timah Canal

Ranjeev Kumar

No PhotoName: Ranjeev Kumar.
Died: January 6, 2022.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Volivoli, Rakiraki, Fiji.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Ranjeev’s brother-in-law killed Ranjeev, his sister Ragni Narayan, and her son Ravinesh Deo, before killing himself. Police say he was out on bail after being charged with rape. Ranjeev’s niece, a Year 6 student, managed to hide and survive the attack.

Case Status:
David Narayan (Brother-in-law), deceased.

Sources:
Police interview a few people about alleged Rakiraki homicide
Family devastated after alleged homicide case in Volivoli
FIJI: Murders, Suicides, Rape Charge At The House Of Horrors
Investigation into alleged homicide continues
Alleged family murder-suicide
Family in shock over alleged homicide

Daunya Fields

Photo of an African-American girl with medium-brown skin and brown eyes, wearing a black top. Her hair is done in small, neat braids and gathered into a scrunchie at the top of her head.Name: Daunya Fields.
Died: December 25, 2021.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Physical and developmental disability due to abuse in infancy.

Details:
Daunya and her adoptive mother Elaine Fizer, 57, were shot to death by her adoptive father, who went on the run for several days before he was found and shot by police.

Case Status:
Dwayne McDonald (Adoptive father), deceased; shot by police.

Sources:
Woman, daughter found shot dead by relatives arriving for Christmas dinner
Family urge man to surrender after woman, disabled daughter found dead on Christmas Day
Dwayne McDonald Detroit man wanted in shooting deaths of wife & daughter
Suspect in Christmas Day double killing of wife, daughter shot dead by cops
Video: Detroit Police Search for Husband in Christmas Slaying of Wife and Daughter
Detroit Police shoot and kill suspect in Christmas Day murder of mom and 13-year-old disabled daughter

Svetlana Shiryaeva

No PhotoName: Svetlana Shiryaeva (Светлана Ширяева).
Died: December 13, 2021.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: Aleksandrovka, Saratov, Russia.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Svetlana lived with her mother and her young nieces and nephews. She and the three children, ages 3, 5, and 7, died from poisoning, and at first it was thought that they had all been poisoned with insecticide that was used on their house. But, months later, the young woman’s mother went to police and allegedly confessed that she had poisoned a meal she had made for all four.

Case Status:
Лидия Ширяева (Lidia Shiryaeva) (Mother), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
Gran kills her three grandchildren and disabled daughter with poison-laced meal
Женщина из Александровки убила трех внуков и родную дочь молочным супом | Живая Кубань
Принесла пакетик с отравой и разложила детям по тарелочкам: в Саратовской области задержали женщину, подозреваемую в отравлении дочери и троих внуков
Подсыпала отраву в суп: под Саратовом женщина отравила троих внуков и дочь-инвалида (ВИДЕО)

Cara Broyles

Photo of a young woman with long brown hair, light skin, and brown eyes, smiling for the camera.Name: Cara Lynn Broyles.
Died: December 1, 2021.
Age at death: 27.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Police received a call from Cara’s home in which her father said he had killed his family. At the home, police found Cara’s body, along with that of her mother Candace and her brother Aaron. Cara’s father was arrested, telling police he had wanted to kill himself but could not go through with it.

Case Status:
William Broyles (Father), charged with three counts of second-degree murder. Declared incompetent to stand trial; hospitalized for restoration of competency.

Sources:
William Broyles deemed incompetent for trial in Nassau County family’s massacre
Nassau County man fatally shot wife, two children multiple times then called 911, deputies say
Autism Memorial: Cara Broyles
Man charged with killing wife, daughter, son in Nassau County is on suicide watch
Man shoots, kills wife, daughter and son inside Callahan home, Nassau sheriff says
Florida church musical director killed wife, two kids at family’s home: sheriff
Florida Church Musician Said He Shot Wife and Two Kids Multiple Times to ‘Make Sure They Didn’t Suffer’ But Was ‘Too Scared’ to Kill Himself: Sheriff