Tragedy struck a Tennessee family just two days into the new year. A mother, grandmother, and two young boys died in an apparent murder-suicide, leaving a heartbroken husband and father trying to understand what went wrong. Deputies from the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office conducted a welfare check at a home in Waverly, about 75 miles from Nashville. Inside, they found the bodies of 32-year-old Heather Thompson, her sons, 4-year-old Arius Thompson and 13-year-old Isaiah Johnson, and her grandmother, 88-year-old Evelyn Johnson. Tragically, it appears Heather Thompson killed her children and her grandmother and turned the gun on herself. Now, investigators want to know what drove her to such a horrific crime.
Per WKRN, deputies went to the family’s home for a welfare check on Friday morning. Inside, they found the victims, who investigators believe died not long before they arrived. Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed the deaths.
“I know the family,” he said during a news conference. “We’re going to do right by them. We’re going to respect them, and we’re going to do right by them.”
The news came as a shock to neighbor Zach Newberry, who told WKRN he never expected anything like this to happen so close to home.
“It’s a quiet street,” Newberry said. “This is the craziest thing to ever happen on this street.”
Jeremiah Thompson told WSMV that he and his wife, Heather Thompson, were separated at the time of the deaths but spoke daily. He never worried that she would hurt anyone.
“It’s my boys. I just can’t believe she did this,” he said. “My wife was a good person. I just don’t understand how this happened.”
Jeremiah Thompson urged anyone who needs help to reach out before it’s too late.
“If you were feeling overwhelmed, why didn’t you just let me know? Like, you can just say, hey, like, hey Biah, like 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,” he told WSMV.
This is such a horrific crime. Choosing to end your own life is tragic, but taking innocent people’s lives with you is so unfair to them and their loved ones. Hopefully, Jeremiah Thompson can find peace in his heart and a way to keep his sons’ memories alive.
The case remains under investigation.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
