Mom Allegedly Murders Her Children’s Father Outside Day Care as They Watched

Mindy Michelle/Facebook, Chris Jones/Facebook

Two young boys in Florida are without their father, and police say their mother was his killer. Mindy Osteen allegedly shot and killed Christopher Travis Jones outside Auntie Lili’s Child Care Center in Starke. Tragically, the couple’s two young sons reportedly saw the horrific act of domestic violence. They are now without both their parents, as Osteen sits in jail without bond.

Osteen allegedly approached Jones and their sons as he picked them up from day care on July 25, 2025, KGNS reported. The mother of two reportedly hugged the boys, and Jones put them in the back of the car before getting into the driver’s seat. When he did, Osteen allegedly opened fire. Police say she fired three shots into the car at the father of her children. Jones got out of the car and ran toward the building to take shelter. Osteen continued shooting as Jones became trapped between the day care’s front door and the second security door.

The mother’s gun reportedly malfunctioned, and she cleared it before firing three more shots at Jones, the news outlet reported. Witnesses told police they could hear the man moaning.

“Please, let the monster die,” Osteen allegedly said.

“You got to die,” she told Jones. “You can’t kill my kids.”

“I’m not killing nobody,” Jones reportedly replied.

When deputies from the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office arrived, Jones told them Osteen shot him, according to KGNS. “I’m right here, y’all,” she said. “I done it in self-defense.”

Emergency crews took Jones to an area hospital, where he died a short time later.

Per KGNS, six children and two employees were inside the day care at the time of the shooting. Auntie Lili’s Child Care Center released a statement on Facebook following the devastating shooting.

“We are heartbroken to share that our community is going through a very difficult time due to a recent tragic accident. Out of respect and privacy of those involved, we will not be sharing details, but we want to assure you that the safety and well-being of all our children and families remain our top priority,” the post reads. “We thank you for your compassion and understanding during this time. If you or your child need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we are here for you.”

Melanie Russo created a GoFundMe account to help pay for Jones’ final expenses and to support the couple’s young sons.

“He worked long hours, showed up with love and patience every day, and always put his boys first. Losing him has left a hole we will never be able to fill — but because of this community, we don’t have to face it alone,” the page reads in part.

Osteen remains in custody without bond. According to online records, she faces charges of homicide, larceny, possession of a weapon, and two counts of cruelty toward a child, all felonies.