A welfare check carried out on November 7, 2024 led to the horrifying discovery of five dead individuals across two residences in Duluth, Minnesota. The victims included two children aged seven and 15, in what law enforcement has concluded to be a quadruple murder-suicide.
Police were alerted to the situation when Erin Abramson, 47, did not report to work, prompting a concerned coworker to call. Upon responding to Abramson’s Tacony Street residence, officers found Abramson and her 15-year-old son, Jacob Nephew, both dead from gunshot wounds.
In the aftermath of the initial discovery, Anthony Nephew, 46, was identified as a person of interest and his home was put under surveillance. Upon entering his house, police discovered the bodies of Kathryn Nephew (Ramsland), 45, their seven-year-old son Oliver, and Anthony Nephew himself, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The evidence led investigators to conclude that Anthony Nephew was responsible for the murders before taking his own life.
Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa confirmed that the suspect had a history of mental health struggles, which had led to several prior police visits to his home.
Prior to the tragic incident, Nephew was known for posting politically charged and anti-Trump content on Facebook. He expressed feelings of mental distress, attributing it to societal pressures including religion. He feared persecution from religious extremists and described thoughts of being targeted or harmed.
Among his posts, Nephew criticized Republicans for allegedly making it difficult for women to leave abusive relationships. He made references to “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a dystopian series where women are subjected to severe oppression and denied rights.
Nephew also shared political images featuring Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, associating Trump with “hate” and the Democratic leaders with “hope,” “heal,” and “grow.” As an Independent voter, he expressed his discontent with the political system, longing for better candidates from both sides and critiquing what he perceived as a choice between fascism or its opposition.
In an op-ed for a local newspaper, Nephew had expressed concern about his mental health challenges, warning that such struggles could lead to suicide or even homicide. He criticized the U.S. mental health system for stigmatizing and ignoring those struggling with mental health, leaving them to deal with their struggles alone, and for societal pressures leading many Americans to hide their mental health issues.
Investigators confirmed that Nephew and Abramson had been in a relationship previously and had a child together, adding another layer to the tragedy that deeply affected the family and the community.
Duluth-area schools have responded by making available crisis resources for students impacted by the incident.
The Duluth Police Department is pressing on with its investigation to develop a full timeline of events and to determine if there were missed opportunities for intervention. As part of the investigation, Chief Ceynowa noted that cell phone data and other records are being examined to help reconstruct the events leading up to the incident, although an explicit motive has not yet been disclosed.
