In a tragic incident, a 39-year-old Oklahoma woman, Brandy McCaslin, killed her three children and herself in a murder-suicide following a standoff with authorities.
The distressing event unfolded in the town of Verdigris and was confirmed by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. McCaslin and her children, aged 10 months, six years, and 11 years, were discovered dead in their home by the police. The investigation revealed that McCaslin shot her three children before turning the gun on herself.
The authorities were first alerted to the incident when a police officer noticed fireworks going off near McCaslin’s residence. Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered an armed McCaslin had barricaded herself inside her house. Verdigris Police Chief Jack Shackelford stated that the fireworks were set off by an unidentified woman who had come to the house for a supervised visit with one of McCaslin’s children. When she arrived, McCaslin reportedly pointed a gun at her, took her child, and locked the woman and two other children in the garage. The woman managed to set off a Roman candle firework through a broken window to draw attention and seek help.
Negotiations with McCaslin began as soon as the police arrived at the scene, but after three hours without a response, the officers entered the home and discovered the bodies.
Josh Kerr, a local pastor who knew McCaslin from her younger days, expressed his shock at the news. He noted that McCaslin had experienced struggles in recent years, hinting at a possible mental health crisis. Kerr mentioned other tragedies in her family, including suicides and drug use, which are common societal issues.
Shackelford acknowledged that this was the second murder-suicide case in Verdigris in a few months, emphasizing the emotional toll such incidents take on first responders, particularly when children are involved. Even though first responders are trained to perform under such circumstances, he explained, the impact is often felt later when they reflect on the event, especially if they have young children themselves.
A neighbor, Bill Salwaechter, expressed his sadness about the children’s death, noting that they were innocent victims. A makeshift memorial has been established in front of the house to honor the memory of the children.
