Influencer Sara Gilson was reportedly heard “screaming and crying” during a 911 call before police discovered her and her estranged husband, Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey, dead inside their Oklahoma home.
“I’m trying to reach him back, but I could hear a female in the background screaming and crying. Some sort of loud bang in the background,” In dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE, a 911 dispatcher tells first responders that the caller was “screaming and crying” before the apparent murder-suicide unfolded.
Sara Gilson, 43, and her estranged husband, Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey, 48, were found dead with gunshot wounds inside their Owasso, Oklahoma, home late on the night of July 23 after a child who lived in the home called 911.
According to dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE, first responders were told that the caller could be heard “screaming and crying.” Moments later, a dispatcher also told responding officers they were dealing with a man “we were looking for a few weeks ago after he got caught kissing a juvenile” and warned that a gun was involved. By about 11:18 p.m., officers reported that they had arrived at the home.
Authorities later said Duffey fatally shot Gilson before turning the gun on himself, according to KTUL. A family member later confirmed the identities of both victims.
In the weeks leading up to her death, Gilson had spoken publicly about allegations against Duffey. On July 11, she posted a TikTok video using a popular trend in which users jokingly pretend to sit down for a Netflix documentary interview. In the video, she wrote, “Preparing for when Netflix drops a documentary about my soon to be ex husband who I just found out is a pedophile.”
“I wish I was joking,” she added in the caption.
Court records reviewed by PEOPLE show that on June 10, the mother of a 15-year-old girl filed for a protective order against Duffey on her daughter’s behalf. The teenager had played on a youth basketball team coached by Duffey.
According to The Oklahoman, the girl’s mother alleged that Duffey kissed and touched her daughter and that another coach witnessed the incident. The girl also claimed Duffey sent her messages, invited her to his hotel room during a basketball tournament and offered her money to stay quiet.
Gilson had also sought legal protection from Duffey several times.
Court records show she filed two protective orders against him in 2021, although both were dismissed after she did not attend the scheduled hearings.
She filed another emergency protective order on July 10, just weeks before her death. In that filing, she claimed Duffey had a gun, threatened to take his own life and had “gone on the run,” according to The Oklahoman.
A judge ordered Duffey to immediately leave the family home and remain at least 100 yards away from Gilson, according to court records reviewed by PEOPLE.
Beyond the legal filings, Gilson was well known on TikTok, where she built a following by sharing videos about beauty, fashion, food and everyday life. She often posted hairstyling videos featuring clients and gave followers a look at her work as a hairstylist. She also highlighted artwork created by her father and regularly shared updates about her family.
Her account frequently featured her two children—a daughter and a son—from a previous marriage.
Following her death, loved ones launched a GoFundMe campaign to support her son and daughter.
The fundraiser describes Gilson as “an incredible mom” whose children “were the center of her world.”
“Her sudden and heartbreaking loss has left an entire community grieving, but the greatest loss is felt by her two precious children, who must now face life without their loving mother,” the fundraiser states.
The campaign also remembers Gilson as “an amazing mother, daughter and friend.”
“She loved them fiercely, worked hard to provide for them, and dreamed of giving them the best life possible,” the description continues.
Friends and supporters say Gilson devoted herself to raising her children while building her career as a hairstylist and lifestyle influencer. Her social media pages captured everyday moments with her family, beauty tips, fashion finds and glimpses into her life.
