Mum kills her two kids and herself after losing custody battle to her ex
A mother murdered her two children and then turned the gun on herself after losing a custody battle to her ex.
Brandy Hutchins killed her 10-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter in their mobile home after a judge ordered her to relinquish custody of her son to his father, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Hutchins was given a 6pm Friday deadline but did not appear for her appointment, said Judd.
Deputies responded after being notified that Hutchins violated the court order. They discovered her son Aiden Hutchins’ body in the home in Lake Wales, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, Judd said.
The deputies also found the bodies of Aiden’s half-sister and Hutchins.
Hutchins ‘from every indication in our investigation now has murdered her 10-year-old child and her 19-year-old child,’ stated Judd on Sunday.
‘Murdered them and then subsequent to that, she shot herself. I can’t imagine a more horrific set of circumstances.’
The murder-suicide stemmed from a ‘domestic event’ between Hutchins and her ex-husband, Judd said.
By Saturday afternoon, Aiden’s father posted on Facebook calling for help to find his son. On Sunday after hearing from deputies, he shared an update with a ‘heavy heart’ and several photos of Aiden.
‘I am writing this to give everyone an update about my son Aiden Hutchins who was missing and taken by his mother on August 25 2023 who decided to murder him,’ wrote the dad.
‘He was killed by her today August 27 2023.. he will forever be in my heart and did not deserve this. Rest in peace my sweet boy I will see you again. I love you.’
There was ‘no indication’ that Hutchins had a criminal history or could be violent, Judd said.
For an office that has dealt with ‘hundreds and thousands’ of court orders, this case was ‘absolutely devastating for everyone’, he said.
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