Who Is Aubrianne Moore? New Details About The Mother Who Killed Her Three Children And Herself With A Hunting Rifle
She believed she was protecting them.
Facebook Authorities released new information about a Michigan mother who shot her three children and then herself with a hunting rifle in a triple murder-suicide.
The fatal shootings of Alaina Rau, 2, Cassidy Rodery, 6, and Kyrie Roder, 9, were homicides and the shooting death of their mother, 28-year-old Aubrianne Moore, 28, was a suicide, the Kent County Medical Examiner ruled Wednesday, according to WOODTV. The four bodies were discovered around 3 p.m. on Monday in Solon Township, about 25 miles north of Grand Rapids.
"I've been with the sheriff's department for 29 years," said Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young. "This is one of the hardest cases I've ever hear about. This is a very difficult case. Our investigators are feeling it. It's heartbreaking that something like this happened in our community."
So who is Aubrianne Moore and why did she kill her kids? Here's what we know so far.
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1. Moore picked the kids up from school early.
LaJoye-Young said that Moore checked Cassidy and Kyrie out of school around noon on Monday. She took them to lunch and then stopped at a property that belonged to the girls' great-grandparents on 19 Mile Road near Division Avenue in Solon Township, he said.
2. The mother shot her daughters in a wooded area.
Authorities said Moore used her boyfriend's legal bolt-action hunting-style rifle to shoot and kill her three daughters. LaJoye-Young said investigators found three shell casings in a wooded area behind the house.
3. She shot herself at her boyfriend's property.
The sheriff said that after Moore shot and killed her children, she put their bodies in the trunk of her car and drove down the road to her boyfriend's property, where she shot herself outside of the vehicle.
"We were able to pretty accurately put together the timeline of everything that happened from the time the kids were picked up from school until the time the bodies were found, so we’re very certain that there wasn’t any opportunity for anyone else (to be involved). Plus the ballistics were consistent with the suicide in the three murders," LaJoye-Young said.
4. She had a history of mental illness.
In September, a social worker filed a petition to have More committed to a psychiatric hospital, WLNS reported.
“I believe the individual has mental illness and as a result of that mental illness the individual can reasonably be expected within the near future to intentionally or unintentionally seriously physically injure self or others and has engaged in an act or acts or made significant threats that are substantially supportive of this expectation,” the petition reads.
The petition said Moore suffered from hallucinations and heard voices and was a danger to herself and others.
“Aubrianne is keeping her kids home from school because the television told her there would be a school bus accident today,” the social worker wrote. “Aubrianne stays awake at night believing people will break into her home. Aubrianne is not eating believing food is being poisoned.”
Moore was diagnosed with "unspecified schizophrenia" by a Forest View doctor and ordered to be hospitalized “up to 60 days, followed by alternative treatment up to 90 days,” court records show. The records indicate that Moore agreed to be hospitalized at Forest View Psychiatric Hospital in Grand Rapids Township, although it is unclear how long she was there or if she sought additional treatment, according to WZZM13.
5. She believed she was protecting her children from some kind of threat.
Moore did not leave a suicide note but according to her recent writings, she was afraid of some sort of threat that didn't exist, LaJoye-Young said.
"She believes she was protecting the kids from something and most of her writings really followed kind of in that line," LaJoye-Young said. "I don't know what else to say. There's no good answer here."
6. A GoFundMe was set up to raise money for the funeral costs.
A fundraiser was set up by the girls' uncle, Joseph Graham, to cover the costs of the funerals. As of Friday, $9,000 of Graham's $15,000 goal was raised.
"My name is Joseph Graham and on Monday, 02/18/2019, I was interrupted doing homework to receive the worst and most heartbreaking news I could have ever imagined," Graham wrote. "I lost my nieces, and the world lost 3 beautiful angels; Kyrie Rodery (8), Cassidy Rodery (6), and Alaina Rau (2). No one understands and no one ever will understand but what I am trying to accomplish is to give my family and the Rau family some sort of support. At the very least I’m praying to cover funeral costs with this, but anything in excess will be used for legal purposes (trying to figure out how Aubrianne was neglected by doctors and treated to a lesser degree of help than what she needed). My family is not the only one who is suffering, though.
"Another man named Steven Rau lost his daughter Alaina and he lost his girlfriend, Aubrianne Moore, who was failed by the system," he continues. "Steven and countless others from his family and friends are affected. There is no set number amount of people hurt because this should affect everyone who reads it. If all you can do is pray and pass the word on, we can prevent this from ever happening again.
"The big goal is 15K but my entire family and the entire Rau family would appreciate 50 dollars or even 5. Even if all you can spare is some prayers, that’s equally as appreciated. Please pass this on and please pray for the Rau family and my family and the community of Cedar Springs and all surrounding communities. God bless you all for so much as even reading this story.
And most importantly of all.... never let the world forget the names Kyrie Rodery, Cassidy Rodery, and Alaina Rau."
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can get help by contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
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Sarah Gangraw writes about all things news, entertainment and crime. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.