A Florida family was rocked this week after a mother, distraught over a custody battle, shot and killed her two children before turning the gun on herself in a horrific murder-suicide.
According to Fox News, Brandy Hutchins allegedly shot and killed her 10-year-old son, Aiden, and 19-year-old daughter, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
The murder-suicide came in the wake of Hutchins being ordered by a judge to surrender her 10-year-old son to his father, who lives in Maine.
Florida mom Brandy Hutchins shoots dead two kids and herself inside their mobile home after losing custody to her ex https://t.co/ZepkADvUTM pic.twitter.com/FXsQQFhLVF
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) August 29, 2023
It was noted that the father involved in the custody battle was the father of the boy. The daughter, who was also killed, had a different father who was not involved in the dispute.
Fox News noted:
Hutchins' ex-husband was in Florida to appear in court with her because she did not appropriately turn over custody of their son. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said she was instructed to give up custody of him by 6 p.m. Friday but failed to show up for the appointment.
The court order had reportedly been violated, and deputies spent the weekend searching for the young boy.
They discovered the three bodies when they searched Hutchins' home on Sunday.
Aiden's father released a heart-shattering statement, providing an update on what had taken place, noting that his young son didn't deserve to die at the hands of his mother.
"It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this to give everyone an update about my son Aiden Hutchins who was taken by his mother on August 25, 2023 who decided to murder him," the grieving father wrote. "He was killed by her today, August 27, 2023. He will forever be in my heart and did not deserve this."
🚨🚨🚨Brandy Hutchins - Murdered her children
Mother Murders her 2 Children, then Su1c1d3This is so sad. Mother didn't want to turn over her kids, pursuant to family court order, then murders her 2 children and self when father came to get his children.#VF501 pic.twitter.com/PN0gHwKgKF
— Bill Corbitt 💙 (@VetFather_Bill) August 29, 2023
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd weighed in on the devastating outcome, noting that it was one of the worst cases she's experienced.
"My heart breaks for all of the family," Sheriff Judd said. "We're devastated for this beautiful 10-year-old child — all because mom did not want to turn the child over to the rightful father pursuant to a court order."
The murder-suicide is still under investigation, and no further details were provided.
