7-and-11-year-old girls died after their mother stabbed multiple times one of them and inflicted injuries on another, then killed herself only because she struggled financially
Maine – In a disturbing incident in Maine, a mother and her two young daughters were discovered dead in their apartment in a case that police suspect to be a murder-suicide. The bodies of the 37-year-old mother, identified as J. Barney, and her daughters, 11-year-old Harmony, and 7-year-old Hope, were found last Saturday, on what would have been Hope’s seventh birthday.
Authorities were alerted to the situation after a U-Haul truck rented under Barney’s name was not returned. Upon arriving at the family’s home for a welfare check, law enforcement discovered the bodies inside the apartment, indicating that they had been deceased for several days. The grim discovery was made around 3:30 PM on July 27.
The mother’s death has been ruled a suicide, while the deaths of the girls were classified as homicides by the authorities. A spokesperson for the police department reported that one of the girls succumbed to multiple stab wounds and the other to multiple injuries. The specifics regarding which daughter suffered which type of injuries were not disclosed immediately. The ongoing investigation by the authorities aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding their untimely deaths.
The community and the family of the victims have been left in shock and mourning. D. Wilcox, the children’s paternal grandmother, expressed her disbelief and sorrow, recalling the unique personalities of each child. Harmony was fond of unicorns and the color pink, while Hope had a love for cats and the color purple. Neighbors reported a noticeable absence of the children, who had not been seen playing outside in weeks and had also been missing summer school sessions. This unusual behavior had raised concerns among local residents.
The family had faced challenges prior to the tragedy. Barney had been working as a delivery driver for DoorDash, reportedly to support her family financially. According to reports, there was an overdue rent notice pasted on their front door, dated July 17. The girls’ father had passed away unexpectedly in 2019, which had been a significant blow to the family. The family had briefly lived with Wilcox before moving out on their own. Wilcox lamented that, had she known of any issues, she and others would have readily provided support.
Barney and her daughters’ deaths highlight several social issues, including mental health, financial instability, and family support systems. Authorities have not yet officially disclosed what led to the tragic murder-suicide, leaving the community searching for answers. As the investigation continues, the local community has begun mourning the loss, with neighbors and friends leaving flowers and stuffed animals at a makeshift memorial outside the family’s home.
