A routine police check for a stolen U-Haul truck led to the discovery of a suspected murder-suicide on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in the small town of Mechanic Falls, Maine. The bodies of 37-year-old Jennifer Barney and her two daughters, 7-year-old Hope West and 11-year-old Harmony West, were found in their home.
According to Mechanic Falls Police Chief Jeffrey Goss, officers arrived at the residence on Highland Avenue around 3:30 p.m. to investigate the missing vehicle, which Barney had rented and failed to return. The U-Haul was parked outside, but efforts to reach Barney inside the home went unanswered, prompting officers to enter the premises.
Inside, they discovered Barney dead; her death was later ruled a suicide by the state medical examiner. Nearby, the bodies of her daughters were found, with the examiner determining the girls were victims of homicide. One child died from multiple stab wounds, and the other suffered multiple injuries.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Mechanic Falls, a community of about 3,000 people. The West sisters were described as lively and friendly, often seen playing outside together, but they had not been seen outside in weeks, according to some neighbors. Their grandmother, Davina Wilcox, expressed her heartbreak, stating, “We’re all in shock. Never expected in a million years, I’d be burying my grandchildren.”
The sisters were students at Elm Street School, whose absence is keenly felt. The school’s superintendent, Amy Hediger, posted a message on social media, conveying the “unimaginable loss” felt by the school community. A crisis team has been mobilized to support grieving students and staff.
The girls’ uncle, Dan Parrott, created a GoFundMe page to assist with funeral costs. He expressed gratitude that Harmony and Hope supported each other through life’s challenges—the fundraiser, which is now closed, raised over $10,000.
An obituary in the Portland Press Herald showed that the girl’s father and Barney’s husband had died unexpectedly in December 2019. This has not been confirmed yet by officials.
In a heartfelt tribute to the girls’ influence, Elm Street School hosted a candlelight vigil on Sunday, August 4, 2024. The event brought together friends, family, and community members to commemorate their lives. During the vigil, Principal Jessica Madsen remarked that the school would feel a significant absence without them.
