Murder-suicides are devastating families across the US this holiday season, and experts warn the problem is getting worse

Sun, 12/31/2023 - 15:10

theresa cachuela maryalice cash cindy domini murder-suicide victims — Police said Theresa Cachuela, top, was shot to death by her husband, who later died by suicide. Maryalice "Molly" Cash, bottom left, and her mother, Cindy Domini, bottom right, were killed by Cash's boyfriend, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
Lucita Ani-Nihoa/GoFundMe; Friends of Molly/GoFundMe

At least a half dozen suspected murder-suicides — or familicides — occurred in the US in December.
Perpetrators are typically middle-aged men; precipitating events are often separations or divorces.
Experts have flagged easy firearms access and a lack of violence-interruption programs as causes.

From Hawaii to New York, Arizona to Massachusetts, some involving children, others involving spouses or intimate partners, news of suspected murder-suicides gripped Americans throughout December.