Additional Coverage:
- Tennessee mom shoots and kills two young sons, grandmother before turning gun on herself (themirror.com)
Waverly, TN – A somber cloud hangs over Humphreys County after a tragic discovery last Friday morning, where authorities found four family members deceased in what investigators believe was a murder-suicide.
The Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office, responding to a welfare check, located Heather Thompson, her two sons aged 13 and 4, and her grandmother at their Waverly residence. All four had sustained gunshot wounds. A preliminary investigation suggests that Heather Thompson was responsible for the deaths of her family members before taking her own life.
Sheriff Chris Davis, visibly emotional during a press conference, acknowledged the profound impact on the close-knit community. “Here again, small town America.
Here again, I know the families,” Davis stated. “So, we’re going to do right by them.
We’re going to respect them. We’re going to do right by them.”
He confirmed that Thompson, her children, and her grandmother were lifelong residents of Humphreys County.
Jeremiah Thompson, Heather’s ex-husband and father to the two boys, drove overnight from New Mexico upon hearing the devastating news. Despite their separation, he reported speaking with Heather daily.
He expressed profound disbelief and sorrow, stating, “It’s my boys. I just can’t believe she did this…
My wife was a good person. I just don’t understand how this happened.”
He added that there were no prior indications that such a tragedy would occur, lamenting, “If you were feeling overwhelmed, why didn’t you just let me know? You can just say, ‘Hey, Biah, I need a break.
Can you please just take the boys for the summer or for the rest of the year?’ I would have gladly done that.”
A vigil for the family was held Tuesday night at the Humphreys County Funeral Home, offering a space for the community to grieve and remember. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Sheriff’s Office with the ongoing investigation.
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