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Indiana woman killed her 3 children and herself, police say

CNN.com

January 25, 2011

(CNN) -- An Indiana woman shot her three children and set the family's house on fire before turning the gun on herself, police said.

The bodies of the four were discovered Friday, when police in Austin, Indiana, responded to the home to conduct a welfare check.

"Upon arriving, the officer had to make a forced entry into the residence," Indiana State Police said Monday in a statement. "Once in the residence, he saw parts of the home had suffered recent fire damage and also located four deceased persons in the home."

The state police assisted with the investigation, which preliminarily concluded that 30-year-old Amanda Bennett shot the children -- 14-year-old Jasmine Abbott, 9-year-old Katelynn Bennett and 4-year-old Ryan Bennett -- before starting the fire and shooting herself.

"While the investigation remains open until autopsy reports are finalized, indications are this case is a tragic case of murder/suicide that claimed three innocent lives along with the suspect of the murders, Amanda Bennett," the police statement said.

All four apparently died from gunshot wounds to the head. Amanda Bennett and Katelynn Bennett also suffered smoke inhalation, police said.

The family's dog was also shot, but survived and was being treated at a veterinary clinic, authorities said.

Jasmine, the teenager, had made references to marital problems between her parents and a possible divorce, friend Karen Barrett told CNN affiliate WDRB.

Indiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Jerry Goodin told CNN that authorities examined online content as part of their investigation, including a posting purportedly from Amanda Bennett that blamed her husband, according to WDRB, saying, "You got what you wanted, no wife and no kids."

However, the reasons for the shootings remain unclear, Goodin said.

"The only person that knows the motive is Amanda," he said.

Austin is about 35 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky.

'This is for you': Mother left desperate internet message for husband on day she and three children were found shot dead

DaailyMail.com

January 24, 2011

A mother who was found shot dead alongside her three children in a partially burned-down house had posted desperate messages on an internet forum in the days leading up to her death.

Amanda Bennett, 30, who was found with gunshot wounds to the head in the town of Austin, Indiana on Friday, was taunted online over accusations her husband was having an affair.

Her children, 14-year-old Jasmine, 9-year-old Katelynn and 4-year-old Ryan were found alongside her and an autopsy by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office showed all had died from a gunshot wounds and smoke inhalation.

It has now been revealed that Bennett had appeared extremely anxious during an internet post - entitled ‘Gone forever’ - which she is believed to have made on the day of her death.

One line, which refers to her husband John, reads: ‘it’s time to take the pain away so John Bennett this is for you you got what u wanted no wife an no kids’.

Indiana State Police Sergeant Jerry Goodin confirmed to CNN that investigators were aware of the post and others that might be relevant to the case.

The message board, The Crothersville Forum, is used by people at Versatech, John Bennett’s place of work.

Using the name ‘his wife’, Mrs Bennett is believed to have posted a series of messages detailing her divorce from John.

She had begun posting message on the site after catching some of its users discussing an affair John was allegedly having with a co-worker called Jan.

On January 9 one user, posting as Employee, wrote: ‘John Bennett and Jan need to quit messing with each other they are both married and she is old.’

A discussion thread followed on from the post, alleging infidelity on both sides of the Bennett marriage, to which Mrs Bennett responded the following day, writing: ‘Glad you all want in are business.’

As the thread moved on, Mrs Bennett later wrote: ‘he will regret everything he is doing right now . Maybe not tomorrow but one dAy’.

Mrs Bennett was criticised by several users on the forum for an affair, which she denied, that contributed to the break-down of the marriage.

When news of her death broke, one poster on the site, Team Black, wrote: ‘I guess everyone knows by now that Amanda Bennett and her kids are dead.

‘I would think that the guilt felt by Jan, John, and all the people who made fun of her on here and called her names is very strong.’

Mrs Bennett’s body, and those of her children, were found when police forced their way into her home at around 4pm on Friday after being asked by a family member to check on them.

Police found that parts of the home had been burned and, after a ‘quick search’, discovered the four bodies.

‘This is a very, very tragic situation - a very sad situation,’ Sergeant Goodin told CNN.

‘We have no reason to believe at this time that the public at large should be scared for their safety.'

Mom shot, killed her three children

Wdrb.com

January 24, 2011

AUSTIN, Ind. (WDRB Fox 41) -- Indiana State Police say they've determined that three children who were found dead inside a home in Scott County, Ind. were shot to death by their biological mother.

According to a news release distributed by the Indiana State Police, 30-year-old Amanda Bennett shot and killed 14-year-old Jasmine Abbott, 9-year-old Katelynn Bennett and 4-year-old Ryan Bennett on Friday while at their home in the 200 block of New York St.

Police say that after shooting her children, Amanda Bennett started a fire in the home and took her own life.

The family dog was also shot, but is recovering in a Scott County veterinary clinic.

Police are calling the incident, "a tragic case of murder/suicide that claimed three innocent lives along with the suspect of the murders, Amanda Bennett."

The official cause of death has not yet been determined, as the autopsies have not been completed, but preliminary autopsy results indicate that all four individuals died as a result of gunshot wounds to the head.

Friends say there were signs of marital problems.

"This past Sunday night we come home from church," said Karen Barrett, a friend. "There were two loads of cops here and the husband and wife I assume had a scuffle because that's what my niece said, that Jasmine had come to school talking about her mom and dad getting a divorce."

But other than that, Barrett says you would never know. "He'd get out and play basketball with the kids, she'd sit out on the porch and watch 'em play you'd never know there was any family trouble, never," said Barrett.

Police would not comment on any possible domestic problems. "That is part of our investigation so there are some things that we don't want to release," said Goodin.

Debra Davidson is a cook at Austin Elementary and says she'll never forget 9-year-old Katelynn. "She always gave me and one of the other cooks a hug every day," said Davidson.

The deaths are something many just cannot comprehend. "I can't understand it," said Barrett, "I just can't see it myself, Lord knows all about it."

Austin schools had extra counselors at school on Monday.