Christine Adewunmi

Other details

Christine Adewunmi killed herself by shooting herself the same day.

The offence

Christine Adewunmi shot and killed her three daughters, Lauren (8), Samantha (6), and Kate (3). Investigators confirmed that Adewunmi fired the fatal shots. The shots were fired from a handgun. All four victims had a single gunshot to the head, from a nine millimeter handgun.

Investigation

Crawford County Sheriff Randy Martin said investigators from his office and the Missouri Highway Patrol confirmed that Adewunmi fired the fatal shots and that investigators were talking with family members to determine why Christine Adewunmi drove her daughters to such a remote location and why she would have killed them.

The bodies were discovered about 1 p.m. Saturday near Blue Springs Ranch, which provides camping, horseback riding and float trips on the Meramec River. The gravel road was in a remote part of the property, away from the campground. The bodies were found near the family SUV, which was parked at the dead end of a gravel road leading to the river.

A woman who answered the phone at the campground said the Adewunmis were not staying at the campground, and Sheriff Martin said the four victims were not guests at the campground though Christine’s vehicle was found in the vicinity.

The coroner believed the victims died sometime Friday afternoon, but were not discovered until Saturday.

Background

Christine Adewunmi was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression. Her family members knew she battled depression and saw her struggle.

The family statement said:

"Depression is difficult to understand and a serious illness that is hard to comprehend,"
"No one knew the depths of her problem or could ever foresee this tragedy occurring. We cannot understand why this happened and are dealing with this tragic loss one minute at a time."

A statement released by the family also said the family held that Christine Adewunmi was a loving and devoted mother and that:

"No one knew the depths of her problem or could ever foresee this tragedy occurring. We cannot understand why this has happened and are dealing with this tragic loss one minute at a time."
"We firmly believe the Christine we knew and loved would never intentionally hurt her children."

The statement described Leonard Adewunmi as an "involved and caring dad" who would “miss cooking with Lauren, playing soccer with Sammi, and singing to Kate.” The statement also described him as a devout Catholic and family man.

The family said Christine Adewunmi had spent the last nine years making her children the number one priority in her life, including going to the park, taking them on vacations, and playing in the yard.

Alan Berman, director of the American Association of Suicidology, said studies show most perpetrators of murder-suicides are men, and that cases where mothers take their children’s lives in addition to their own are far fewer and more complex. Berman said some mothers have delusions that they may be protecting their children by killing them, and said:

"Her children need to be under her wing even in her death,"
"It's a horrendous loss of life for the children, but that's not in her brain. She's thinking, 'They need to be with me.'"

A neighbor, Jeff Melching, told Fox News:

"There was no indication of any problems. They were talking to me like normal neighbours would when you meet somebody for the first time."

People involved

Christine Adewunmi

Christine Adewunmi was a Missouri mother diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression. She was 37 in the reporting that described the case and her body was found with her three children.

Christine Adewunmi graduated from Kirkwood High School with the maiden name of Pannett. She was a physical education teacher at Parkway North from December 1998 to June 2006. She also taught health classes and was a coach for the girl's track and softball teams. During her high school days, she was known as Christine Pannett and she was a 1993 graduate of Kirkwood High.

Leonard Adewunmi

Leonard Adewunmi was Christine Adewunmi’s husband and the children’s father. He called police to report that his wife and children were missing after returning home at 6 p.m. on Friday and finding an empty house. He told police that his wife had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was suffering from depression and that he feared she was suicidal.

Leonard Adewunmi tried calling his wife’s cellphone more than 25 times. Investigators learned the wife had been looking up websites on depression and suicide.

Leonard Adewunmi told police his wife had left with the children on two prior occasions and had lied about where they went, and that the children told him they had been at a house by the water. The reporting also said Leonard told police Christine left with the children on two other occasions, including as recently as last Tuesday, before she returned.

Leonard Adewunmi took Christine to Mercy Hospital for evaluation on Thursday. The wife decided that she would check herself in for treatment on Friday. Christine told her sister she was planning to admit herself for treatment on Friday. Another report said Christine had recently been referred to a hospital for evaluation.

Leonard Adewunmi was listed on the business networking website LinkedIn as a managing partner of CRI Commercial Properties, described as owning and managing several apartment and commercial units in the St. Louis area. In 2006, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Cots Realty Investments, which Leonard Adewunmi owned with his brother Joseph Adewunmi, and against Re/Max Associates Plus, where the brothers worked as agents. The suit alleged homes were sold at inflated values to Hispanics with limited English proficiency, and alleged falsifying the buyers' employment, income and assets so they would qualify for the mortgage. The case was pending. The reporting described Joseph Adewunmi as indicted on related criminal charges, and Joseph was later sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $127,000 in restitution.

Lauren Adewunmi

Lauren was 8 years old.

Samantha Adewunmi

Samantha was 6 years old.

Kate Adewunmi

Kate was 3 years old. She participated in a parent-child interaction program as a preschooler.

Trial

No trial information was included.

Sentencing

No sentencing information was included.

Outcome

Investigators called the case a murder-suicide, with the mother doing the shooting.

Crawford County Sheriff Randy Martin said:

"We are confident this was a triple-murder/suicide, with the mother doing the shooting."

Aftermath

Oak Brook Principal Chris Shirley sent parents a letter via email on Sunday night notifying them about the deaths and stating:

"When students return, there will be additional support to help them, staff and parents process their feelings and grief."

The principal also included resources for parents to help talk to their kids about death. The school was on spring break.

The family released a statement:

"It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that we release this statement about Christine, Lauren, Samantha and Kate Adewunmi. This is a very challenging time for the family and friends and we appreciate all the support, prayers and love."

In the same statement, the family said:

"Christine was battling depression. Family, friends and professionals were supporting her recovery and stood by her side as she coped with this debilitating disease."

The family asked for privacy for Leonard Adewunmi as he had just lost his entire family.