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The body of Elizabeth Lawley, a 33-year-old pregnant woman, and her 2-year-old son were discovered in their home with gunshot wounds. The tragic incident occurred in northern Idaho and initial investigations suggest that Elizabeth Lawley fatally shot her young son before taking her own life.
The Shoshone County Sheriff, Holly Lindsey, announced on Facebook that deputies responded to a report of a death at a residence in Wallace, a small town about 50 miles east of Coeur d'Alene along Interstate 90, at around 8:30 pm on May 17.
Meanwhile, authorities have not provided any information on the motivation behind Elizabeth Lawley's alleged actions. Sheriff Lindsey also stated that she would not be sharing any further updates about the case.
Elizabeth Lawley was reportedly six months pregnant at the time of her death
The victims' bodies were discovered by Elizabeth Lawley's father, who stumbled upon the tragic scene. As reported by the Coeur d'Alene Press, he returned to his home at around 6 pm and presumed that his daughter, Elizabeth Lawley, and his grandchild were resting in a different room of the house. However, it was only at 8:30 pm that he decided to check on them and found their lifeless bodies.
According to the New York Post, Elizabeth Lawley was approximately six months pregnant when she allegedly committed the murder-suicide.
The Shoshone County Sheriff, Holly Lindsey, stated that in her 19 years of service in the County, she had never witnessed her office in such a somber state. Sheriff Lindsey spoke about the Elizabeth Lawley case and said:
"As the Sheriff, I'm obligated to share the news with the citizens of Shoshone County, but I can't in good conscience put the family through any more pain by reporting on this incident any further, so this will be our last comment pertaining to this tragedy."
She added:
"Today was an extremely difficult day for the family, for our office, and for this community. And I can only imagine what the family is going through."
Before ending the press meet she urged residents to reflect on the importance of life. She asked everyone to cherish the relationships they have and asked people to embrace their children and take time to connect with their loved ones. "Don't overlook any of these blessings, even for a single minute," the Sheriff said.
Murder-suicide cases in the nation
The number of murder-suicide cases has been on the rise in the United States. Just last week, a Utah doctor took the life of his 16-year-old son before ending his own inside his Psychedelic Therapy and Research office. In another tragic case, a Massachusetts mother suffering from postpartum depression tragically strangled her three young children before attempting to take her own life.
A case in Minnesota also recently came to light where law enforcement officials discovered the lifeless bodies of two individuals inside an apartment unit. The victims were reportedly dating.
In another case in rural Oklahoma, a convicted r*pist, Jesse McFadden fatally shot six people, including five teenagers, before taking his own life. The victims were all shot in the head. Their bodies were found in two separate locations on the property where the McFaddens resided. The motive for the crime remains unclear.
