Last Updated:
A Minnesota man, Anthony Nephew, who shared anti-Trump posts and struggled with mental health issues, killed his ex-partner, wife, two sons, and then himself.
Minnesota man kills family, later dies by suicide (Photo: AP)
A man in US’s Minnesota, who wrote several posts against President-elect Donald Trump, shot dead four members of his family and died by suicide later. According to a report with the New York Post, the incident came to light on November 7 after authorities in the state recovered the bodies of the man’s ex-partner Erin Abramson (47) and their son Jacob Nephew (15) from an apartment.
Later, the bodies of the man’s wife Kathryn Nephew (45) and their son Oliver Nephew (7) were recovered from another apartment close by.
The man was identified as 46-year-old Anthony Nephew, who was also found dead inside the home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the report stated.
The Associated Press quoted Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa and stated that Nephew had a “pattern of mental health issues”.
In a series of posts on social media, Nephew had expressed left-wing and anti-Trump thoughts.
“My mental health and the world can no longer peacefully coexist, and a lot of the reason is religion,” one of Anthony Nephew’s social media post in July read.
“I am terrified of religious zealots inflicting their misguided beliefs on me and my family. I have intrusive thoughts of being burned at the stake as a witch or crucified on a burning cross. Having people actually believe that I or my child are Satan or, the anti-Christ or whatever their favourite colour of boogie man they are afraid are this week,” his another post read.
In yet another post, he accused Republicans of “making it harder for women to leave” abusive relationships.
Anthony Nephew shared other political posts, including an image of former president Barack Obama, Trump, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The word “hate” was mentioned under Trump’s face, while the words “hope”, “heal” and “grow” correspond with the Democratic politicians.
Nephew had previously been issuing a chilling warning about his mental health battles, writing in an op-ed in the local Duluth News Tribune in 2021, “For millions of Americans, a breakdown leads to suicide — or homicide before suicide”, the report added.
Meanwhile, the police were yet to determine the motive behind the killings.
