By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal
Published June 28, 2010
A 29-year-old Flat Rock woman who shot and killed her 9-month old daughter and then killed herself apparently suffered from untreated depression, authorities said.
The names of the mother and daughter still haven’t been officially released, but family members identified the woman as Celeste Williams Patterson and the baby as Leigh Ann Patterson, according to WAFF.
Reports show Patterson and her child were living with the child’s father in Etowah County until last week, but after a series of domestic disputes, Patterson moved in with her mother in Flat Rock.
The incident happened in the backyard of Patterson’s mother’s home on Jackson County Road 705, around 9 p.m. Thursday, when Patterson shot her infant daughter with a high-powered rifle, then turned the weapon on herself.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Chuck Phillips said it appears the woman was in the middle of a divorce and feared the child would be taken away from her. He said she apparently suffered from some type of depression. He said there is no indication the woman was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident.
“We think mentally it disturbed her to the point she couldn’t live anymore,” Phillips said.
No comments:
Post a Comment