A tragic incident unfolded in a Florida home, where a 5-year-old girl was forced to seek help after witnessing her father fatally shoot her mother, aunt, and grandmother before taking his own life. The gruesome murder-suicide took place in Hilliard on the evening of July 24, as confirmed by Nassau County authorities.
The victims were identified as 32-year-old Marissa Leara Rowell, the child’s mother; 71-year-old Sandra Gayle Fogarty, the grandmother; and 33-year-old Alisha Lael Fogarty, the aunt. The shooter was identified as 34-year-old Christopher Bobby Rowell, Marissa’s husband. The identities were confirmed through a GoFundMe page set up to support the bereaved family.
The authorities were alerted to the horrifying crime by the young girl, who ran to a neighbor’s house for help after witnessing the brutal killings. Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper shared details from the child’s account during a news conference. The girl had heard a gunshot from the back of the house and upon investigating, found a female family member on the floor. Another woman tried to hide her in the bathroom, but was shot in the process, splattering the child with blood.
The victim’s cousin, Steven Hallmark, revealed to First Coast News that Marissa was planning to leave her husband and take their daughter with her. The family was in the process of moving into a new house that their aunt had recently purchased.
When authorities arrived at the scene, Christopher Rowell was found with a faint pulse, lying next to an SKS-style rifle. He later succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the hospital. The front door of the house was unlocked, and the bodies of the women were found in various locations within the home.
The family released a statement through their fundraiser, expressing their grief over the loss of their loved ones. They described Marissa as a devoted mother, Sandra as a loving first-time grandmother, and Alisha as a devoted aunt who loved spending time with her niece. The family is committed to ensuring the young girl receives the care and love she needs to heal from this traumatic incident.
The GoFundMe page set up to support the family’s cremation expenses has so far raised over $8,000 of its $15,000 goal.