Mother, 3 children fatally shot in house
Posted on 07/17/2002 2:22:36 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Mother, 3 children fatally shot in house
Parker County officials suspect murder-suicide; estranged husband hurt
07/17/2002
HUDSON OAKS - A 39-year-old mother and her three children were found shot to death Tuesday in their home east of Weatherford, and the children's father, a Fort Worth fire captain, was wounded.
Police said the woman, Dee Etta Perez, apparently killed her three children and shot her estranged husband before killing herself.
"We have recovered a murder weapon real close to the female's body," said Hudson Oaks Police Chief Ray Riley.
|
Just after 1 p.m., Capt. Manuel "Manny" Perez, 38, a 17-year Fort Worth Fire Department veteran, ran to a neighbor's house and called 911. He had a gunshot wound in the back, officials said.
"He told us that there were four people at the house who were shot," Chief Riley said. "He was shot himself and needed help pretty badly. We're still trying to piece things together."
Records show that Capt. Perez had lived on Cottonwood Court with Mrs. Perez. Chief Riley said he could not recall any recent police visits to the house.
|
Capt. Perez was being treated late Tuesday at Harris Methodist Fort Worth hospital, where he underwent surgery. A hospital spokeswoman said Capt. Perez ordered that no information on his condition be released.
When Parker County sheriff's deputies and Hudson Oaks police arrived at the house, they found it "quiet and locked," Chief Riley said.
They forced their way inside and found the bodies. Autopsies were scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Investigators collected about 15 shell casings from the scene but had not yet accounted for all of the bullets, Chief Riley said.
Mrs. Perez's attorney, Craig Towson of Weatherford, said his client and her husband were in divorce proceedings. They had a mediation hearing Monday and an administrative hearing just after 8 a.m. Tuesday.
| Also Online | ||||
|
He characterized those meetings as straightforward but added that his client was upset over the divorce.
"This is horrible. It's tragic," Mr. Towson said. "Anytime that the parties are trying to separate and divide their lives, that's tough on both."
Neighbors said the couple's house is for sale.
Assessed at $120,340, the house sits in a neighborhood carved out of a forest. The homes in the area are mostly brick houses on half- to one-acre lots.
TOM FOX / DMN Dee Etta Perez "loved her children very much," a friend said. Her children were Sergio (left), 10, Diego, 9 and Bianca, 4. |
While investigators worked Tuesday to determine a motive for the killings and whether the estrangement played a role neighbors mingled, hugged and consoled one other.
"It's pretty devastating to everyone here," said Sherry Rosacker, a next-door neighbor. "They both loved those kids," she said. "They were sweet, wonderful children. This is real confusing to all of us."
She said that on Sunday the three children and their mother were seen swimming at a backyard swimming pool at their home.
"They were a delightful family," said Nora Loughrey as she sobbed. "I just can't believe it."
Linda Bushnell, another neighbor, said that before Tuesday, she didn't feel the need to lock her door.
"It only takes one tragedy to change the atmosphere of a neighborhood," she said.
Ms. Bushnell, like others, expressed disbelief at the shootings.
Deana Pippin of Aledo said she was a friend of Mrs. Perez's and had talked to her Monday night.
"She loved her children very much," she said. "She was a good wife and a good mother. She loved her husband."
Staff writer Jason Trahan contributed to this report.
E-mail lfox@dallasnews.com and cfrates@dallasnews.com
Yep. She just loved them to death. < /sarcasm > 
I wonder why a seemingly decent woman would do this? To get back at the
husband?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
