After two children were found dead in their beds in Dacusville, S.C. on May 14, their mother has been charged with shooting them to death, USA Today reported. Investigators told CBS News that the two children died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, according to WSPA.
Suzanna Brown Simpson, 35, who was described as a "model" volunteer at the children's elementary school, was charged Tuesday with "two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder in connection with her husband's gunshot wounds, and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime", according to warrants signed by authorities. According to authorities, Suzanna had no previous criminal record.
The victims were Carly Simpson, 7, and Sawyer Simpson, 5, who attended Dacusville Elementary School in South Carolina. Carly's first-grade teacher, Nancy Zeigler, described Carly as "sweetness defined," while Sawyer's 4K teacher, Jama Freeman, described the little boy as "enthusiastic, adventurous and creative," and said that he loved to build things with Legos.
The children's principal Michael Fleming was hardly able to talk about them.
"Precious children, always smiling, seemed to enjoy school, just really sweet kids," he said of Carly and Sawyer, but that was all he could manage. Grief counselors were available at the school on Wednesday, and two yellow ribbons adorned the school's front door in memoriam. Secretaries went about the sad business of calling parents of the childrens' classmates.
The children's father, Michael John Simpson, 34, had also been shot, and was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
The Simpson's neighbor who lives across the street, Tim O'Connor, said he was the first to realize that something terrible had happened. "I had just got out of bed," he said Tuesday. "I was sitting there watching TV and drinking my coffee, and I heard boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. At first it sounded like whenever somebody's dumping a dumpster. And then it kept going on."
He decided that someone had been in a car wreck, and he was right.
Officials found at around 6 a.m. that Suzanna had been in a car wreck just outside of her house and had sustained injuries. She is listed in serious condition, and her husband in critical condition, according to CBS News. When authorities checked inside the home, they found the dead children and Suzanna's wounded husband.
Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark said that though he couldn't release many details about the present case, he is determined to bringing justice to the victims. He had no idea what had precipitated the violence, and authorities were not aware of any domestic violence calls from the home.
"Every community, no matter how great, has its tragedies, and Pickens County has experienced another one today," he said. "As always in Pickens County, we'll come together. We support our own, and we're here for the family of these victims, and we care for them very much."
The Pickens County sheriff couldn't comment on Suzanna's condition, as she is currently under guard at Greenville Memorial Hospital, nor would he answer whether her husband and children were asleep when they were shot, or how the wreck happened and if Suzanna had been trying to flee the scene.
"No matter how tough a cop you are, no matter how many people you've prosecuted, doesn't matter who you are, when kids are involved it's a wfhole different situation," he said, as the ages of the victims made the job that much more emotionally intense.
"They were a typical, ordinary middle-class family, worked hard," said neighbor Glenn Abbott, who had moved to the neighborhood within a few weeks of the time the Simpsons did nine years ago, describing them as a "very nice couple."
Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor, Walt Wilkins, said that the case could qualify for the death penalty if a conviction is reached because it involves multiple homicides and children younger than 11 years old.
The Pickens County School District released a statement expressing sadness over the death of the two children. "Both students were very special to the faculty, staff and children of our school," the statement said. "Carly had a beautiful smile that brightened everyone's day. Sawyer's excitement for learning was contagious. Our heartfelt condolences go to the family."
Click here to watch the video of Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark and and 13th Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins talking with media about the shooting.
