A community in Oklahoma is mourning the death of a mother and her three young children who reportedly died in a murder-suicide on July 20. Police came to the home near East Dogwood Court and Cypress Street in Verdigris after they noticed fireworks being set off nearby. It was then that they found Brandy McCaslin, 39, had barricaded herself in the home and had taken another woman hostage.
McCaslin was in an hours-long standoff with police that tragically ended in multiple deaths. The mother of three reportedly shot her children and then turned the gun on herself. Billy Jacobson, the father of one of McCaslin's children, is speaking out and claims that McCaslin had known mental health issues and the court system failed him and his son. Now, he wants justice.
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The standoff began when a woman visited the mother with one of McCaslin's children.
According to a report from News 9, a woman showed up at McCaslin's home late Thursday afternoon with one of McCaslin's children and two of her own. Police Chief Jack Shackelford said when the woman got to the house, McCaslin took the woman's at gunpoint and took her child into the home.
She then trapped the woman and her children inside the garage. The hostage found a firework and set it off to attract the attention of the police. The woman and her children eventually escaped alive.
A police officer arrived and began to investigate.
The officer quickly called for backup after realizing McCaslin was barricaded inside the home with her children: 9-month-old Billy, 6-year-old Bryce, and 11-year-old Noe. Shackelford told News 9 no sound was coming from the house during the standoff.
"Negotiations quickly began, as they worked to make contact with 39-year-old Brandy McCaslin. A standoff ensued for the next three hours. After no response, officers made entry into the home where they found McCaslin, along with her three children, dead inside," noted a statement from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation posted on Facebook. "The children included a ten-month-old, as well as a six and eleven-year-old. It was determined that McCaslin shot all three kids and then turned the weapon on herself."
Police had been to the home many times in the past.
The home was known by police, who have responded to multiple domestic disturbance and child welfare calls, according to News 9.
Although McCaslin reportedly struggled, some who knew her were shocked by what happened. Josh Kerr, pastor at First Presbyterian Claremore, told the news outlet he had known McCaslin since childhood and was stunned.
"Lots of tragedy, suicides in the family, drug use, all the brokenness we see in our communities all the time," Kerr said. The pastor added that although many are upset and angry, he wants people to think about more. "There also needs to be empathy and sincere grief and some compassion," he added.
McCaslin had supervised visits with her children.
Both Noe and Billy's fathers had emergency custody paperwork put in place in January from separate judges, according to a report from KJRH. The courts granted McCaslin supervised visitation of the children because it was deemed the mother was a potential threat.
Court documents obtained by the news outlet show that McCaslin was ordered to take a drug test in early June and was to have a psychological evaluation completed before an upcoming August court hearing.
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Jacobson claimed McCaslin attempted suicide in January 2023.
Less than a week before his boy's tragic death, Jacobson beamed about his baby boy on Facebook. He wrote, "Can't believe that my baby boy is 9 months old today! Baby Billy LOVES to eat, says Daddy all the time and is a crawling all over the place !! He has such a sweet & funny personality."
Days later, the grieving father took to social media to discuss a father's rights and how he believed the court system failed him. Jacobson claimed McCaslin tried to kill herself this past winter. And even though he was granted emergency custody of their infant son, Billy was later returned to McCaslin.
"The system failed me and basically helped her, even though she didn't have an attorney and had multiple issues with mental health and suicide, and put my kids right back in the care of somebody they knew would injure my kids. And if it wasn't for that, my son would be here in my arms right now," Jacobsen said.
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.
