Despondent Mom Kills 3 Sons, Self
July 12 -- A mother distraught over her failing marriage drove the family’s pickup truck into the Missouri River — killing herself and her three little sons.
In a chilling suicide note to her husband, Karen Duncan said she was upset with the problems in their 10-year marriage and at the end of the letter vowed “your children will be in God’s hands now.”
The note was found in a car parked at the family’s CouncilBluffs, Iowa, house Monday night at the same time rescue workersfrantically searched for the woman and her children.
Hours after the note was found, the corpses of 33-year-old KarenDuncan, her 4-year-old twins, Derek and Dylan, and 8-year-old son,Zachary, were pulled from the river along with the truck.
“Certainly her intent was she was going to commit suicide andtake the children with her,” Sgt. Ray Mabbitt said. “It was notan accident.”
The shocking murder-suicide brings back haunting memories of Susan Smith. In 1994, Smith drove her car containing her two young sons into a watery grave in Union, S.C. Smith was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence.
Authorities did not make the entire suicide note public. Mabbitt saidonly that it contained “her observations on their marriage” andthat she had been distraught.
Husband Stunned
Husband Chris Duncan, 35, was at home when he learned of the crash.
“I don’t want to talk right now,” he said.“Obviously, I can’t think straight.”
A statement released by the family Tuesday night said KarenDuncan was struggling with depression and the family had soughtprofessional help.
“We sincerely hope and pray that other families who may beexperiencing this situation, will seek out and receive the helpthey need,” the statement read.
Karen Duncan’s grandmother, Sally Negrete of Council Bluffs,said the suicide came as a shock.
“Karen was a nice person,” Negrete said. “I would have neverexpected her to do that.” “She was a great mother,” neighbor Donald Swotek told the New York Post. “You couldn’t ask for better.”
