I describe in this episode the possible motives behind why a mother would harm her own children. Even having some knowledge of those reasons, I still find it difficult to fathom how a person can hurt or kill their own children. What goes on in the mind of someone in that circumstance, we'll certainly never know, but the ramifications of their actions run deep and are devastating.
Transcribed EP05: Christy Sheats & Cynthia Kessler Collier: Maternal Instincts
[Host] This podcast episode contains crimes against Children and content that may not be suitable for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.
spk_1: 0:19 in this episode will be talking about a type of crime that is considered so rare it begs the question. What would cause someone to do something so horrendous? Maternal Phyllis Side is a term used to describe when a mother murders her own child or Children. In a 2007 article titled Child Murder by Mother's Patterns and Prevention, Philip J. Resnick, psychiatrist and co author, explain that Phyllis Sidle mother's tended to have and I quote frequent depression, psychosis, prior mental health treatment and suicidal thoughts. In his article, he goes on to explain that maternal Phyllis Side perpetrators have five major motives in an altruistic, Phil aside, altruistic meaning to show a disinterest in selfless concern for the well being of others. A mother kills her child out of love. She believes death to be in the child's best interest. For example, a suicidal mother may not wish to leave her motherless child to face an intolerable world where a psychotic mother may believe that she is saving her child from a fate worse than death in an acutely psychotic Phil aside, a psychotic or delirious mother kills her child without any comprehensible motive. For example, a mother may follow command hallucinations to kill when fatal maltreatment. Phil aside occurs, death is usually not the anticipated outcome. It results from cumulative child abuse, neglect or Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a mental health problem in which a caregiver or parent makes upper causes an illness or injury and a person under his or her care, such as a child, an elderly person or someone suffering from a disability in an unwanted child. Fill aside, a mother thinks of her child as a hindrance, and, lastly, the most rare motive spouse. Revenge, Phil aside, occurs when a mother kills her child specifically to emotionally harm that child's father. When we hear about this type of crime happening, we immediately think, How could she do that to her Children? What could have possibly driven her to that point? Many times the signs were there, But sometimes the pieces air put together when it's far too late in our society, we view mothers is being infallible as being selfless. It's hard to believe that a mother could do anything to purposely harm her Children. But we'll be discussing a couple of cases where two seemingly good and loving mothers do just that and commit the unimaginable. Be sure to head over to the crime shack dot com for all available episodes and show notes and also like and subscribe to us on your favorite podcast spk_0: 3:21 app. Christie Bird, born May 2nd, 1974 grew up in Decatur, Alabama. She met Jason Raise Sheets born on June 24th 1971 who lived not far from her in Trinity, Alabama. They married when they were in their twenties and eventually moved to the 6000 block of rooms in Hot Low in Katie, Texas, a suburb of Houston, and had two daughters, Taylor Ashton and Madison Tyler Katy, Texas is a city about 30 miles west of Houston, with approximately 19,000 residents. In 2016 Jason was a senior consultant at Occidental Petroleum, an international oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Middle East, Latin America and Africa, and it worked as a software developer and consultant. Over the past 12 years, Christie had worked part time at Clean Canvas Laser, a tattoo removal company, but was laid off in 2015. She had previously owned her own business patches and pink pickles, and it also worked as an executive assistant marketing assistant and a hair stylist. On June 7 2012 Christie's grandfather, whom she was very close to and had been a role model to her, passed away Onley two months following his death. Christy's mother also passed away. On August 20th 2012 Christie took their deaths extremely hard and, according to Jason, she began to spiral Christie and on Lee Child then lost her grandmother, the only family member she had left at the end of February of 2014. Christie has always struggled with depression over the course of their marriage, but the years following the deaths of her closest family members pose new challenges. Over the next several years, Kristie sought out treatment with various mental health facilities, although she was seeking treatment, 14 calls to authorities had been received from their home, and that included three calls due to suicide attempts made by Christy. Even with the multiple 911 calls, there was no indication that Christie would act out towards her family in a violent manner. Jason had told authorities that Christie had been taking several medications for anxiety and depression and that she'd been seen a therapist. But he didn't have any information about her medication regimen or how they may or may not have affected her mental stability. He also told authorities that she had become a heavy drinker. After several years of having issues and having separated previously in their marriage, Jason and Christie's marriage began to decline. As for their two daughters, their lives seem to be progressing towards their futures. Normally in 2016 Madison was heading into her senior year at Seven Lakes High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society, and she often volunteered with the Spartans out serving club at her high school. Her older sister, Taylor, had graduated from Lone Star College within Associates degree and had recently enrolled at the University of Houston to pursue an undergraduate degree in medical diagnostic sonography. Taylor was also in the midst of planning a wedding. She was engaged to her boyfriend of four years Juan Sebastian Luego and was planning on getting married on June 27 2016. Taylor and Juan had planned a small ceremony with a larger celebration to be held once Taylor finished her studies, the University of Houston on Friday, June 24th 2016. Taylor, excited about her upcoming marriage ceremony that following Monday, got into an argument with her mother, Christy, about the wedding plans. Christy wasn't the least bit happy about Taylor planning to wed one and try to discourage her from going through with it by grounding her from seeing her fiance. Jason told Christy that he didn't agree with Grounding Taylor as she was 22 years old the same day, which was also Jason's 45th birthday. He decided that he was essentially done with his marriage to Christie and told her that this would be the last birthday that you were going to ruin and that he wanted a divorce. Following the disagreement about Taylor's wedding and the mention from Jason that he wanted to pursue a divorce, Christie told her family that she wanted to have a family meeting with them. That afternoon in their living room, Jason assumed the meeting was to tell their daughters about the impending divorce that they had discussed. It was around 5 p.m. When Christie gathered Jason and their two girls in the living room. Christie began the discussion by reaching down in between the sofa cushions and pulling out a five round 38 caliber revolver, a gun, which had been handed down to Christie by her grandfather. Jason later told investigators that Christie had previously applied for a license to carry, but the application had been denied. Officials were unsure if it was denied based upon her mental history. The 38 revolver was not, however, the only gun in the residence. Authorities found multiple hand guns in the home. Christie was also a known supporter of the Second Amendment and would make public postings on Facebook in support of it, saying that she needed a gun to protect her family. As Christie stood in their living room holding the revolver, she immediately pointed it towards her husband and told him, You made me do this. You're making me do this In the middle of their mother. Pulling out the gun, Madison managed to call 911. Madison was unable to speak directly with the dispatcher. But you can hear Jason and the girls pleading for Christie to put down the gun. The voices on the caller difficult to decipher. But the call begins with who we can presume. Is Christy stating I told you, followed by Jason, who could be heard shouting to her. I promise you, Please forgive me. I'm sorry. Another voice is heard. Please don't shoot us. And Jason yells, Please! Someone is heard saying, I'm sorry. Which is presumably Christie. Jason. I will do anything. Jason Taylor and Madison can be heard screaming in the background. Jason again is heard. Please don't point that gun at us. Wait, please don't shoot. One of the daughters is heard screaming. Jason is then heard saying, I'm so sorry. I promise you whatever you want. I will. And before the call is cut off, you can hear Christie sane. It's too late. spk_4: 10:48 Wait, I promise you. Whatever, E. spk_0: 11:25 Shortly following Madison's 911 call, a second call came from Taylor's phone. It captured more screams and shouts, but the words air indiscernible. spk_4: 11:36 No wonder you need police fire or am a way, ma'am. Okay, spk_0: 12:00 Kristi. Then quickly fired a bullet at each of the girls and fired three additional shots, which ended up in the living room walls. Jason managed to run around the sofa and helped his daughters out of the front door of the house. With Christy following close behind, Madison collapsed outside of the house. Jason ran towards the end of their cold a sack, and Taylor ran out into the street. Witnesses stated that Jason tried to encourage his daughters to escape their mother as neighbors tried to shelter him to safety. 1/3 911 call was made by a neighbor of the sheets who could relay the horror that was unfolding as Christy Sheats chased her daughter's outside of their house. spk_5: 12:47 E Yes. We need an ambulance right away that people believe that I believe they're shot. OK, down the line. Okay. You think they got shot? You say yes. Okay. In the rest of this. This is this a lady with a gun. There's a lady with the gun. Where? Yes, it's coming out of the house or no. Okay, shut up. Okay, Okay. Where is the lady with the gun coming out of prison. The tree right now. Is she still shooting? No, he's not sure. Nobody's gonna hear her hands. I rented the back of my house. Okay. Who do you know who the lady is? Uh, they're my neighbors, okay? And the people that she shot, do you know them? I like her. Okay, We'll be there in the street and the meat of the street that I was long gone. If two people laying in the street Two people, two ladies clearing the street, Two females. Okay, They took e mails, and there's a guy trying to help them. But the ladies title on the top of one of them with a gun or her hand. Okay, but the suspect is on top of one of the females on the street. You're just just just on the street just standing up. She's standing over one of the patients with the guns. Yes, yes, In the it looks like both of our lives. Workers. A person related. They're both alive, but okay. You know, she tried the shouting. He's trying to shoot again on the top of her, but I'll bring the shooter number. Furnish. You don't have any more bullets, okay? Yeah, I do too, sir. Just stay on the line. Let me know what you see. But she's going and she's going inside the house now. Hopefully not getting any more bullet because it looks like you're gonna look for more bullets. Okay. All right. Stand in line in this. I don't know where that I went, but apprentices yelling at her. But describe the guy, the guys that you also they're all, um, occasions. Okay. And the milk coming back again. Becoming thicker than well, apparently she has bullets now. Her over. Okay, they stay on the line. Oh, he's got her again. She heard you matter again? Yes. From the back here. Straight and run. She thought she got enough. The female again. That was yes. There was laying down on the floor. Started from the back here. I don't see them anymore, but there's a bullet and she's laying on the floor. Mounts. The female that was shooting is laying down. She shoot herself? I don't know. I don't know. I guess he heard down before now. But I don't I don't know what happened. This you shoot herself. Well, Brenda, she did. You think she shot herself? Apprentice? You start. So Okay. I don't I don't She's moving. Yes. OK. You know, it doesn't look like she's moving anymore. Okay? Okay. I'm so sorry. You things would just stay on the line. Okay? So do you happen to know the names of these people? Do you know your neighbors? Uh, no. I don't know their names or anything. Okay, Okay. She's laying down on the floor. She still not moving? I'm not moving. Okay. Okay. Uh, the deputies have already, spk_0: 16:28 as Christie came back outside after reloading her gun, she ran up to Taylor as Taylor was trying to run away and shot her again in the back. Taylor was shot by her mother, both in the head and back in Madison was shot once in the neck as the full sure police approached the scene. They could see Christy standing in the middle of the street over one of her daughters. They asked Christie to drop her weapon, which she refused to. D'oh. It appeared as if Christie was going to shoot her daughter again. They shot Christy multiple times and she died at the scene. Madison also died at the scene, and Taylor was taken to Texas Medical Hospital where she later died. Although Jason had stated that Christy shot at him multiple times, he was not shot or injured. During the incident. Jason told authorities that Christie had more than enough time to kill him if she had wanted Thio, but instead chose to prolong the event and go after their daughters. Jason was taken to the hospital Is he suffered from shock, but later spoke with authorities at length about his marriage and what led up to the incident. He stated that it was clear Kristie accomplished what she had set out to D'Oh, which was to make him suffer for the rest of his life. Kristy knew how much Jason loved his daughters and how much they loved him. Christie was described by her close friends is being a devoted and loving mother that her daughters were everything to her. Christie was 42 years old on that day, Taylor was 22 Madison was 17. On September 20th 16 2003 months after Christy Sheats murdered their daughters, Jason Sheets sat down with Dr Oz and spoke publicly for the first time about the incident. spk_7: 18:27 I can't relive that day, it is the hardest single there is. There's nothing that compares to it. And I always thought I had had it tough. I I'm happy to talk about my girls. And I'm happy that try and help, uh, this from ever happening to someone else because my go is is ah, It's like if if if you see something so traumatic happened to the people that you love most the furthest thing, the farthest thing from your mind that you ever want to do is relive that. And no matter what I do, no matter where I run, no matter what I try to occupy my time with, I will never be able to get those thoughts out of my head. But to voluntarily walk down that path on a consistent basis or our own national TV is just to paying for it. I wouldn't be able to get a dad. I get it. I get it. Can I ask you about your wife in her history? Uh, actually, will not. I can't speak about her. It's she is beyond. I have nothing good to say about her. And so, um, nobody that loves their Children. I can do that to their Children. So I have nothing good to say about it. Why do you think she didn't shoot you? I think she planned on. I think I was just gonna be the last one because she did. She get me three times. Why do you think God saved you? Where is she? People accuse me, and they automatically accuse me and saying it. But I wish he hadn't. I wish she hadn't always should here to save them. And I was. I was gone. I honestly can't say. Um but since I am here and they're not, that's why I reached out once I was contacted. That's why I reached back out to you guys. Because I wanted some help trying to find a charity where I could maybe, uh, hopefully make it so that this never happens again to anybody, ever. Which is my one of my greatest wish is is that nobody ever has to experience what I went through And what, more importantly, what my daughters went through, but that no parent ever has to survive their Children because of violence in the home. There have been people that have contacted me and told me that they were in relationships that they believe could be dangerous. And so I thought that, um, it was worth me trying coming on the show to tell them this that if you are in any kind of relationship where you think that there is any danger to anybody under that roof and you have an instinct to get out, then you need to get out. Now. You don't need to wait till tomorrow. You don't need to wait till tonight when you can call somebody, just be gone when they get back. That's my vice if you're in that situation. spk_0: 21:59 A private funeral was held in Decatur, Alabama, for Madison and Taylor on July 2nd 2016. Their mother, Christy Sheats, had a separate service before she was cremated and buried in Alabama. Cynthia Kessler Collier was born on June 21st 1963. She married Randall Call your senior in 1982 in Norfolk, Virginia, when she was 19 and he was 22. Over the next 30 years, together they would go on to have three Children two boys, Randall Jr and Jacob, and one girl, Michelle. They would eventually also adopt four additional Children from China between the years 2003 and 2008. Kaylie Lin, Li Lin, Megan Lynn and Boli. In 2007 Randall and Cynthia began to have marital problems, and they decided to separate, with Randall moving out of their home two years later. The separation would continue for years, with a divorce never actually being finalized, Randall voluntarily relinquished the caretaking of the adopted Children to his wife, Cynthia. Cynthia then became the sole caregiver of all four adopted Children, with Randall on Lee, making one attempt to contact his adopted Children over a span of nine years. Although he did not maintain a relationship with the Children, Randall did agree to provide Cynthia with monthly support for her and the Children in the amount of 11,500 each month, as Cynthia was a stay at home mother and chose to home school the Children. In 2014 Randall and Cynthia purchased about 36 acres of land in the 1000 block of Carter's Creek Pike in Columbia, Tennessee, a community about 45 miles south of Nashville. In 2015 they built a beautiful, white, sprawling 7500 square foot six bedroom house on the property, which is currently valued at $1.2 million. Randall held out hope for their relationship, but eventually things turned sour once again. Although they had officially separated back in 2009 they didn't officially filed for divorce until 2018. Randall requested a restraining order against Cynthia and sought partial custody of the Children. In early May of 2018 Randall had requested parenting time with the adopted Children, but in a subsequent filing he had asked the judge to dismiss that request. As he had been an absent father for the last nine years, It seemed as if he was trying to regain some form of relationship with them. Once again, Cynthia argued that he was attempting to force himself back into the Children's lives when they were doing perfectly well without him. Cynthia's past family history was also unveiled in the divorce records, indicating that Cynthia had been subjected to a traumatic childhood, having been molested and Abe used as a child by her parents. Then, on May 29th of 18 2002 months after filing for divorce, both Randall and Cynthia asked the court to drop the divorce filing with no reason given and to close the case around 4:45 p.m. On the Monday afternoon of October 15th 2018 Cynthia's adult son, Jacob, who had been living with her at the time along with his adopted siblings, was on his way home from work and decided to call his mother, as was his normal custom. When he would leave work, his mother did not answer her phone. He tried his four siblings, who were also at home with her. No one picked up their phone. He called his family members, who also tried to called Cynthia and her Children. Still no answer. When Cynthia's son arrived at the home that afternoon, he quickly understood why no one in the home was answering their phones. Inside the home, he discovered the bodies of all four of his siblings, along with the body of his mother, all dead from gunshot wounds. At around 6 19 PM, Cynthia's son, Jacob, called 911. Police would arrive at the residence approximately 10 minutes later. spk_8: 27:06 Murray, now one Where is your emergency? spk_6: 27:12 I go home and about my mother, and you can't just build results and, like, Really? spk_8: 27:18 Okay. So you said you came home and your mother has killed herself. My younger sibling. Okay? Your mother killed herself and your younger sibling, are they? They're not breathing. Cool. Okay. All right. Stay on the phone with manager address. Okay? Okay. Dessert. So there, is there a body also staying with you? Does anybody have any weapons? spk_6: 27:46 Uh, there there's a spk_8: 27:50 gun on the floor by her in any way. You could exit the house. Okay, so she has passed. And are you sure the other siblings past Also? I'm so sorry, ma'am. Can you all go back outside the residence, please? Okay. You know how old the mother and disabling is for this child? Four years old spk_6: 28:23 now there's four. There are four Children. There were four off. spk_8: 28:28 Okay, so there's there's gonna be four people deceased. spk_6: 28:32 There are four Children. spk_8: 28:36 Okay, but none of them is breathing at this time. Correct? spk_6: 28:41 No, it was a gunshot wound. I felt I tr spk_8: 28:48 Okay, Okay. If you could just exit the residence, let me know when you're outside. You have a name on the female, The older female? Yeah. Cynthia Collier. Collier. Okay, all right. Are you all out of the residence? I'm so sorry to stay on the phone with me. Okay? What's your name? Jacob. spk_6: 29:22 Yeah, I go get you have to go. But authorities, spk_8: 29:29 OK, Do you have a code that the gate has to be openly. spk_6: 29:33 I'll be out. You're spk_8: 29:35 okay. Do you have the age of the Children? It was the press there. Do you know why she would have done that? It has to do with my father. Your father? Okay. spk_6: 29:49 He's been separated from us for a while, and now he's gone for, like, a decade. And now he's starting to come back and take him and take him to a family that's been abusive to kill us. And it put her depressed. And I need okay, I don't. spk_8: 30:08 Okay. And you said it was over the father leaving, you know, decades ago. He spk_6: 30:13 left a decade ago, and then he comes back and he started his parental rights. Uh, he pursues parental rights, and then it was time to work it out. spk_8: 30:26 Okay. Do you know my chance? I know it's hard, You know, by chance, if he would show about the residents. Are you live here? spk_6: 30:34 No, he doesn't live here, spk_8: 30:36 OK, It was here. I don't. And the way you want it? Yes. If you could give me that. Just take your time. I'm gonna stay on the phone with me until they get there. Okay? Just take your time spk_6: 31:06 with the older she was seeing. Leo was real Vegas. Megan is this other child was 15. And then the last one is a boy name with Bo. He was 14. 40 knows the break is right. spk_8: 31:38 Did you just go there to check on him? Or deal lived there also, spk_6: 31:43 Tyler's years? Well, okay, doll for just 45 calls all over and over again. No, honey, no other life. spk_8: 31:57 But the weapon is still inside. Correct? It's wider body. Okay. spk_6: 32:03 Okay. I was elected a long place because I heard it, and then it stopped. spk_8: 32:13 They're pulling in. Okay. spk_0: 32:15 When law enforcement arrived, as the actual residents was not visible from the street, they had to first pass to secure gates, which were guarded by security system, which Jacob describes in the call. Once they reached the home, they were let up two flights of stairs into the sprawling, immaculate home It was in four different rooms in the house where deputies found the five bodies. 55 year old Cynthia Collier had fired a total of 34 rounds into her four adopted Children using two different guns, which included a shotgun. 17 year old Kaylie Lynn was discovered on the bathroom floor with 13 gunshot wounds. 15 year old Leland was found in her bed with nine gunshot wounds. 14 year old Megan Lynn was found in her bed with eight gunshot wounds, and their brother, Boley, was found in his bed with four gunshot wounds. Cynthia was also found dead, having suffered from one single gunshot wound to her head. Toxicology tests were conducted on each person at the scene, and no drugs or alcohol were found in any of the victims or in their mother. A handwritten note was found at the residence, the contents of which have not been released. But law enforcement indicated that it was very brief and vague and did not provide much detailed information nor a motive for the shootings, but did lead investigators to believe that mental illness could have played a role in the incident and that it did point to murder suicide. By all indications to the outside world, including family members, Cynthia was a very loving mother who maintained a loving, caring home. There had been no prior domestic instances that the residents, prior to that 911 call Cynthia Colliers obituary went on to describe her as a loving and devoted mother and grandmother that she was a tender and sweet soul who always put others first. It went on to say that she embodied selflessness, pure love in a childlike, joyful spirit. Despite the struggles of her life, she sought to live out the will of God. She was adored in treasured by all of her Children. The obituaries of the Call Your Children described them as loving, smart and talented, with bright futures spk_2: 35:00 ahead of them. spk_1: 35:01 Caylee's obituary described her as a wise young woman of deep thought and astounding biblical knowledge. She was brilliant spk_0: 35:09 academically and held the highest of standards for herself in all things. She loved classic country and was passionate about music. She was on her way to becoming an accomplished guitar player and also enjoyed playing banjo and mandolin. Leo was described as unrelenting joy and exuberance, a loving and tender young woman who was always concerned about others will being. She loved baking, crafting and sewing. Gift giving was something that made her truly light up. A sweet hearted social butterfly spk_2: 35:44 enjoyed good jokes and teasing for spk_0: 35:48 Megan. It described her as a happy, contented and dynamic young woman. She loved to laugh and had a bright, fun loving spirit. She dedicated much of her free time to artistic endeavors through sketches and music. She loved playing catchy instrumental songs on spk_1: 36:06 her guitar, and Bo's obituary stated that he was a spectacular young man in the midst of developing all the qualities of a great man. He spk_0: 36:18 had a brilliant mind, was always one for subtle, witty jokes and enjoyed playful teasing. Much like his siblings. He was very talented musically plane instrumental songs on his piano and converting music by ear whenever he wanted. spk_1: 36:39 Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, please be sure to subscribe and rate the podcast on Apple podcast or on your favorite podcast application so you can be sure to catch the next episode. Be sure to check out our website at www dot the crime shack dot com for the latest episodes and show notes. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram at the Crime Shack podcast and on Twitter at the Crime Shack.
spk_0: 0:00 this podcast episode contains crimes against Children and content that may not be suitable for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised spk_1: 0:19 in this episode will be talking about a type of crime that is considered so rare it begs the question. What would cause someone to do something so horrendous? Maternal Phyllis Side is a term used to describe when a mother murders her own child or Children. In a 2007 article titled Child Murder by Mother's Patterns and Prevention, Philip J. Resnick, psychiatrist and co author, explain that Phyllis Sidle mother's tended to have and I quote frequent depression, psychosis, prior mental health treatment and suicidal thoughts. In his article, he goes on to explain that maternal Phyllis Side perpetrators have five major motives in an altruistic, Phil aside, altruistic meaning to show a disinterest in selfless concern for the well being of others. A mother kills her child out of love. She believes death to be in the child's best interest. For example, a suicidal mother may not wish to leave her motherless child to face an intolerable world where a psychotic mother may believe that she is saving her child from a fate worse than death in an acutely psychotic Phil aside, a psychotic or delirious mother kills her child without any comprehensible motive. For example, a mother may follow command hallucinations to kill when fatal maltreatment. Phil aside occurs, death is usually not the anticipated outcome. It results from cumulative child abuse, neglect or Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a mental health problem in which a caregiver or parent makes upper causes an illness or injury and a person under his or her care, such as a child, an elderly person or someone suffering from a disability in an unwanted child. Fill aside, a mother thinks of her child as a hindrance, and, lastly, the most rare motive spouse. Revenge, Phil aside, occurs when a mother kills her child specifically to emotionally harm that child's father. When we hear about this type of crime happening, we immediately think, How could she do that to her Children? What could have possibly driven her to that point? Many times the signs were there, But sometimes the pieces air put together when it's far too late in our society, we view mothers is being infallible as being selfless. It's hard to believe that a mother could do anything to purposely harm her Children. But we'll be discussing a couple of cases where two seemingly good and loving mothers do just that and commit the unimaginable. Be sure to head over to the crime shack dot com for all available episodes and show notes and also like and subscribe to us on your favorite podcast spk_0: 3:21 app. Christie Bird, born May 2nd, 1974 grew up in Decatur, Alabama. She met Jason Raise Sheets born on June 24th 1971 who lived not far from her in Trinity, Alabama. They married when they were in their twenties and eventually moved to the 6000 block of rooms in Hot Low in Katie, Texas, a suburb of Houston, and had two daughters, Taylor Ashton and Madison Tyler Katy, Texas is a city about 30 miles west of Houston, with approximately 19,000 residents. In 2016 Jason was a senior consultant at Occidental Petroleum, an international oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Middle East, Latin America and Africa, and it worked as a software developer and consultant. Over the past 12 years, Christie had worked part time at Clean Canvas Laser, a tattoo removal company, but was laid off in 2015. She had previously owned her own business patches and pink pickles, and it also worked as an executive assistant marketing assistant and a hair stylist. On June 7 2012 Christie's grandfather, whom she was very close to and had been a role model to her, passed away Onley two months following his death. Christy's mother also passed away. On August 20th 2012 Christie took their deaths extremely hard and, according to Jason, she began to spiral Christie and on Lee Child then lost her grandmother, the only family member she had left at the end of February of 2014. Christie has always struggled with depression over the course of their marriage, but the years following the deaths of her closest family members pose new challenges. Over the next several years, Kristie sought out treatment with various mental health facilities, although she was seeking treatment, 14 calls to authorities had been received from their home, and that included three calls due to suicide attempts made by Christy. Even with the multiple 911 calls, there was no indication that Christie would act out towards her family in a violent manner. Jason had told authorities that Christie had been taking several medications for anxiety and depression and that she'd been seen a therapist. But he didn't have any information about her medication regimen or how they may or may not have affected her mental stability. He also told authorities that she had become a heavy drinker. After several years of having issues and having separated previously in their marriage, Jason and Christie's marriage began to decline. As for their two daughters, their lives seem to be progressing towards their futures. Normally in 2016 Madison was heading into her senior year at Seven Lakes High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society, and she often volunteered with the Spartans out serving club at her high school. Her older sister, Taylor, had graduated from Lone Star College within Associates degree and had recently enrolled at the University of Houston to pursue an undergraduate degree in medical diagnostic sonography. Taylor was also in the midst of planning a wedding. She was engaged to her boyfriend of four years Juan Sebastian Luego and was planning on getting married on June 27 2016. Taylor and Juan had planned a small ceremony with a larger celebration to be held once Taylor finished her studies, the University of Houston on Friday, June 24th 2016. Taylor, excited about her upcoming marriage ceremony that following Monday, got into an argument with her mother, Christy, about the wedding plans. Christy wasn't the least bit happy about Taylor planning to wed one and try to discourage her from going through with it by grounding her from seeing her fiance. Jason told Christy that he didn't agree with Grounding Taylor as she was 22 years old the same day, which was also Jason's 45th birthday. He decided that he was essentially done with his marriage to Christie and told her that this would be the last birthday that you were going to ruin and that he wanted a divorce. Following the disagreement about Taylor's wedding and the mention from Jason that he wanted to pursue a divorce, Christie told her family that she wanted to have a family meeting with them. That afternoon in their living room, Jason assumed the meeting was to tell their daughters about the impending divorce that they had discussed. It was around 5 p.m. When Christie gathered Jason and their two girls in the living room. Christie began the discussion by reaching down in between the sofa cushions and pulling out a five round 38 caliber revolver, a gun, which had been handed down to Christie by her grandfather. Jason later told investigators that Christie had previously applied for a license to carry, but the application had been denied. Officials were unsure if it was denied based upon her mental history. The 38 revolver was not, however, the only gun in the residence. Authorities found multiple hand guns in the home. Christie was also a known supporter of the Second Amendment and would make public postings on Facebook in support of it, saying that she needed a gun to protect her family. As Christie stood in their living room holding the revolver, she immediately pointed it towards her husband and told him, You made me do this. You're making me do this In the middle of their mother. Pulling out the gun, Madison managed to call 911. Madison was unable to speak directly with the dispatcher. But you can hear Jason and the girls pleading for Christie to put down the gun. The voices on the caller difficult to decipher. But the call begins with who we can presume. Is Christy stating I told you, followed by Jason, who could be heard shouting to her. I promise you, Please forgive me. I'm sorry. Another voice is heard. Please don't shoot us. And Jason yells, Please! Someone is heard saying, I'm sorry. Which is presumably Christie. Jason. I will do anything. Jason Taylor and Madison can be heard screaming in the background. Jason again is heard. Please don't point that gun at us. Wait, please don't shoot. One of the daughters is heard screaming. Jason is then heard saying, I'm so sorry. I promise you whatever you want. I will. And before the call is cut off, you can hear Christie sane. It's too late. spk_4: 10:48 Wait, I promise you. Whatever, E. spk_0: 11:25 Shortly following Madison's 911 call, a second call came from Taylor's phone. It captured more screams and shouts, but the words air indiscernible. spk_4: 11:36 No wonder you need police fire or am a way, ma'am. Okay, spk_0: 12:00 Kristi. Then quickly fired a bullet at each of the girls and fired three additional shots, which ended up in the living room walls. Jason managed to run around the sofa and helped his daughters out of the front door of the house. With Christy following close behind, Madison collapsed outside of the house. Jason ran towards the end of their cold a sack, and Taylor ran out into the street. Witnesses stated that Jason tried to encourage his daughters to escape their mother as neighbors tried to shelter him to safety. 1/3 911 call was made by a neighbor of the sheets who could relay the horror that was unfolding as Christy Sheats chased her daughter's outside of their house. spk_5: 12:47 E Yes. We need an ambulance right away that people believe that I believe they're shot. OK, down the line. Okay. You think they got shot? You say yes. Okay. In the rest of this. This is this a lady with a gun. There's a lady with the gun. Where? Yes, it's coming out of the house or no. Okay, shut up. Okay, Okay. Where is the lady with the gun coming out of prison. The tree right now. Is she still shooting? No, he's not sure. Nobody's gonna hear her hands. I rented the back of my house. Okay. Who do you know who the lady is? Uh, they're my neighbors, okay? And the people that she shot, do you know them? I like her. Okay, We'll be there in the street and the meat of the street that I was long gone. If two people laying in the street Two people, two ladies clearing the street, Two females. Okay, They took e mails, and there's a guy trying to help them. But the ladies title on the top of one of them with a gun or her hand. Okay, but the suspect is on top of one of the females on the street. You're just just just on the street just standing up. She's standing over one of the patients with the guns. Yes, yes, In the it looks like both of our lives. Workers. A person related. They're both alive, but okay. You know, she tried the shouting. He's trying to shoot again on the top of her, but I'll bring the shooter number. Furnish. You don't have any more bullets, okay? Yeah, I do too, sir. Just stay on the line. Let me know what you see. But she's going and she's going inside the house now. Hopefully not getting any more bullet because it looks like you're gonna look for more bullets. Okay. All right. Stand in line in this. I don't know where that I went, but apprentices yelling at her. But describe the guy, the guys that you also they're all, um, occasions. Okay. And the milk coming back again. Becoming thicker than well, apparently she has bullets now. Her over. Okay, they stay on the line. Oh, he's got her again. She heard you matter again? Yes. From the back here. Straight and run. She thought she got enough. The female again. That was yes. There was laying down on the floor. Started from the back here. I don't see them anymore, but there's a bullet and she's laying on the floor. Mounts. The female that was shooting is laying down. She shoot herself? I don't know. I don't know. I guess he heard down before now. But I don't I don't know what happened. This you shoot herself. Well, Brenda, she did. You think she shot herself? Apprentice? You start. So Okay. I don't I don't She's moving. Yes. OK. You know, it doesn't look like she's moving anymore. Okay? Okay. I'm so sorry. You things would just stay on the line. Okay? So do you happen to know the names of these people? Do you know your neighbors? Uh, no. I don't know their names or anything. Okay, Okay. She's laying down on the floor. She still not moving? I'm not moving. Okay. Okay. Uh, the deputies have already, spk_0: 16:28 as Christie came back outside after reloading her gun, she ran up to Taylor as Taylor was trying to run away and shot her again in the back. Taylor was shot by her mother, both in the head and back in Madison was shot once in the neck as the full sure police approached the scene. They could see Christy standing in the middle of the street over one of her daughters. They asked Christie to drop her weapon, which she refused to. D'oh. It appeared as if Christie was going to shoot her daughter again. They shot Christy multiple times and she died at the scene. Madison also died at the scene, and Taylor was taken to Texas Medical Hospital where she later died. Although Jason had stated that Christy shot at him multiple times, he was not shot or injured. During the incident. Jason told authorities that Christie had more than enough time to kill him if she had wanted Thio, but instead chose to prolong the event and go after their daughters. Jason was taken to the hospital Is he suffered from shock, but later spoke with authorities at length about his marriage and what led up to the incident. He stated that it was clear Kristie accomplished what she had set out to D'Oh, which was to make him suffer for the rest of his life. Kristy knew how much Jason loved his daughters and how much they loved him. Christie was described by her close friends is being a devoted and loving mother that her daughters were everything to her. Christie was 42 years old on that day, Taylor was 22 Madison was 17. On September 20th 16 2003 months after Christy Sheats murdered their daughters, Jason Sheets sat down with Dr Oz and spoke publicly for the first time about the incident. spk_7: 18:27 I can't relive that day, it is the hardest single there is. There's nothing that compares to it. And I always thought I had had it tough. I I'm happy to talk about my girls. And I'm happy that try and help, uh, this from ever happening to someone else because my go is is ah, It's like if if if you see something so traumatic happened to the people that you love most the furthest thing, the farthest thing from your mind that you ever want to do is relive that. And no matter what I do, no matter where I run, no matter what I try to occupy my time with, I will never be able to get those thoughts out of my head. But to voluntarily walk down that path on a consistent basis or our own national TV is just to paying for it. I wouldn't be able to get a dad. I get it. I get it. Can I ask you about your wife in her history? Uh, actually, will not. I can't speak about her. It's she is beyond. I have nothing good to say about her. And so, um, nobody that loves their Children. I can do that to their Children. So I have nothing good to say about it. Why do you think she didn't shoot you? I think she planned on. I think I was just gonna be the last one because she did. She get me three times. Why do you think God saved you? Where is she? People accuse me, and they automatically accuse me and saying it. But I wish he hadn't. I wish she hadn't always should here to save them. And I was. I was gone. I honestly can't say. Um but since I am here and they're not, that's why I reached out once I was contacted. That's why I reached back out to you guys. Because I wanted some help trying to find a charity where I could maybe, uh, hopefully make it so that this never happens again to anybody, ever. Which is my one of my greatest wish is is that nobody ever has to experience what I went through And what, more importantly, what my daughters went through, but that no parent ever has to survive their Children because of violence in the home. There have been people that have contacted me and told me that they were in relationships that they believe could be dangerous. And so I thought that, um, it was worth me trying coming on the show to tell them this that if you are in any kind of relationship where you think that there is any danger to anybody under that roof and you have an instinct to get out, then you need to get out. Now. You don't need to wait till tomorrow. You don't need to wait till tonight when you can call somebody, just be gone when they get back. That's my vice if you're in that situation. spk_0: 21:59 A private funeral was held in Decatur, Alabama, for Madison and Taylor on July 2nd 2016. Their mother, Christy Sheats, had a separate service before she was cremated and buried in Alabama. Cynthia Kessler Collier was born on June 21st 1963. She married Randall Call your senior in 1982 in Norfolk, Virginia, when she was 19 and he was 22. Over the next 30 years, together they would go on to have three Children two boys, Randall Jr and Jacob, and one girl, Michelle. They would eventually also adopt four additional Children from China between the years 2003 and 2008. Kaylie Lin, Li Lin, Megan Lynn and Boli. In 2007 Randall and Cynthia began to have marital problems, and they decided to separate, with Randall moving out of their home two years later. The separation would continue for years, with a divorce never actually being finalized, Randall voluntarily relinquished the caretaking of the adopted Children to his wife, Cynthia. Cynthia then became the sole caregiver of all four adopted Children, with Randall on Lee, making one attempt to contact his adopted Children over a span of nine years. Although he did not maintain a relationship with the Children, Randall did agree to provide Cynthia with monthly support for her and the Children in the amount of 11,500 each month, as Cynthia was a stay at home mother and chose to home school the Children. In 2014 Randall and Cynthia purchased about 36 acres of land in the 1000 block of Carter's Creek Pike in Columbia, Tennessee, a community about 45 miles south of Nashville. In 2015 they built a beautiful, white, sprawling 7500 square foot six bedroom house on the property, which is currently valued at $1.2 million. Randall held out hope for their relationship, but eventually things turned sour once again. Although they had officially separated back in 2009 they didn't officially filed for divorce until 2018. Randall requested a restraining order against Cynthia and sought partial custody of the Children. In early May of 2018 Randall had requested parenting time with the adopted Children, but in a subsequent filing he had asked the judge to dismiss that request. As he had been an absent father for the last nine years, It seemed as if he was trying to regain some form of relationship with them. Once again, Cynthia argued that he was attempting to force himself back into the Children's lives when they were doing perfectly well without him. Cynthia's past family history was also unveiled in the divorce records, indicating that Cynthia had been subjected to a traumatic childhood, having been molested and Abe used as a child by her parents. Then, on May 29th of 18 2002 months after filing for divorce, both Randall and Cynthia asked the court to drop the divorce filing with no reason given and to close the case around 4:45 p.m. On the Monday afternoon of October 15th 2018 Cynthia's adult son, Jacob, who had been living with her at the time along with his adopted siblings, was on his way home from work and decided to call his mother, as was his normal custom. When he would leave work, his mother did not answer her phone. He tried his four siblings, who were also at home with her. No one picked up their phone. He called his family members, who also tried to called Cynthia and her Children. Still no answer. When Cynthia's son arrived at the home that afternoon, he quickly understood why no one in the home was answering their phones. Inside the home, he discovered the bodies of all four of his siblings, along with the body of his mother, all dead from gunshot wounds. At around 6 19 PM, Cynthia's son, Jacob, called 911. Police would arrive at the residence approximately 10 minutes later. spk_8: 27:06 Murray, now one Where is your emergency? spk_6: 27:12 I go home and about my mother, and you can't just build results and, like, Really? spk_8: 27:18 Okay. So you said you came home and your mother has killed herself. My younger sibling. Okay? Your mother killed herself and your younger sibling, are they? They're not breathing. Cool. Okay. All right. Stay on the phone with manager address. Okay? Okay. Dessert. So there, is there a body also staying with you? Does anybody have any weapons? spk_6: 27:46 Uh, there there's a spk_8: 27:50 gun on the floor by her in any way. You could exit the house. Okay, so she has passed. And are you sure the other siblings past Also? I'm so sorry, ma'am. Can you all go back outside the residence, please? Okay. You know how old the mother and disabling is for this child? Four years old spk_6: 28:23 now there's four. There are four Children. There were four off. spk_8: 28:28 Okay, so there's there's gonna be four people deceased. spk_6: 28:32 There are four Children. spk_8: 28:36 Okay, but none of them is breathing at this time. Correct? spk_6: 28:41 No, it was a gunshot wound. I felt I tr spk_8: 28:48 Okay, Okay. If you could just exit the residence, let me know when you're outside. You have a name on the female, The older female? Yeah. Cynthia Collier. Collier. Okay, all right. Are you all out of the residence? I'm so sorry to stay on the phone with me. Okay? What's your name? Jacob. spk_6: 29:22 Yeah, I go get you have to go. But authorities, spk_8: 29:29 OK, Do you have a code that the gate has to be openly. spk_6: 29:33 I'll be out. You're spk_8: 29:35 okay. Do you have the age of the Children? It was the press there. Do you know why she would have done that? It has to do with my father. Your father? Okay. spk_6: 29:49 He's been separated from us for a while, and now he's gone for, like, a decade. And now he's starting to come back and take him and take him to a family that's been abusive to kill us. And it put her depressed. And I need okay, I don't. spk_8: 30:08 Okay. And you said it was over the father leaving, you know, decades ago. He spk_6: 30:13 left a decade ago, and then he comes back and he started his parental rights. Uh, he pursues parental rights, and then it was time to work it out. spk_8: 30:26 Okay. Do you know my chance? I know it's hard, You know, by chance, if he would show about the residents. Are you live here? spk_6: 30:34 No, he doesn't live here, spk_8: 30:36 OK, It was here. I don't. And the way you want it? Yes. If you could give me that. Just take your time. I'm gonna stay on the phone with me until they get there. Okay? Just take your time spk_6: 31:06 with the older she was seeing. Leo was real Vegas. Megan is this other child was 15. And then the last one is a boy name with Bo. He was 14. 40 knows the break is right. spk_8: 31:38 Did you just go there to check on him? Or deal lived there also, spk_6: 31:43 Tyler's years? Well, okay, doll for just 45 calls all over and over again. No, honey, no other life. spk_8: 31:57 But the weapon is still inside. Correct? It's wider body. Okay. spk_6: 32:03 Okay. I was elected a long place because I heard it, and then it stopped. spk_8: 32:13 They're pulling in. Okay. spk_0: 32:15 When law enforcement arrived, as the actual residents was not visible from the street, they had to first pass to secure gates, which were guarded by security system, which Jacob describes in the call. Once they reached the home, they were let up two flights of stairs into the sprawling, immaculate home It was in four different rooms in the house where deputies found the five bodies. 55 year old Cynthia Collier had fired a total of 34 rounds into her four adopted Children using two different guns, which included a shotgun. 17 year old Kaylie Lynn was discovered on the bathroom floor with 13 gunshot wounds. 15 year old Leland was found in her bed with nine gunshot wounds. 14 year old Megan Lynn was found in her bed with eight gunshot wounds, and their brother, Boley, was found in his bed with four gunshot wounds. Cynthia was also found dead, having suffered from one single gunshot wound to her head. Toxicology tests were conducted on each person at the scene, and no drugs or alcohol were found in any of the victims or in their mother. A handwritten note was found at the residence, the contents of which have not been released. But law enforcement indicated that it was very brief and vague and did not provide much detailed information nor a motive for the shootings, but did lead investigators to believe that mental illness could have played a role in the incident and that it did point to murder suicide. By all indications to the outside world, including family members, Cynthia was a very loving mother who maintained a loving, caring home. There had been no prior domestic instances that the residents, prior to that 911 call Cynthia Colliers obituary went on to describe her as a loving and devoted mother and grandmother that she was a tender and sweet soul who always put others first. It went on to say that she embodied selflessness, pure love in a childlike, joyful spirit. Despite the struggles of her life, she sought to live out the will of God. She was adored in treasured by all of her Children. The obituaries of the Call Your Children described them as loving, smart and talented, with bright futures spk_2: 35:00 ahead of them. spk_1: 35:01 Caylee's obituary described her as a wise young woman of deep thought and astounding biblical knowledge. She was brilliant spk_0: 35:09 academically and held the highest of standards for herself in all things. She loved classic country and was passionate about music. She was on her way to becoming an accomplished guitar player and also enjoyed playing banjo and mandolin. Leo was described as unrelenting joy and exuberance, a loving and tender young woman who was always concerned about others will being. She loved baking, crafting and sewing. Gift giving was something that made her truly light up. A sweet hearted social butterfly spk_2: 35:44 enjoyed good jokes and teasing for spk_0: 35:48 Megan. It described her as a happy, contented and dynamic young woman. She loved to laugh and had a bright, fun loving spirit. She dedicated much of her free time to artistic endeavors through sketches and music. She loved playing catchy instrumental songs on spk_1: 36:06 her guitar, and Bo's obituary stated that he was a spectacular young man in the midst of developing all the qualities of a great man. He spk_0: 36:18 had a brilliant mind, was always one for subtle, witty jokes and enjoyed playful teasing. Much like his siblings. He was very talented musically plane instrumental songs on his piano and converting music by ear whenever he wanted. spk_1: 36:39 Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, please be sure to subscribe and rate the podcast on Apple podcast or on your favorite podcast application so you can be sure to catch the next episode. Be sure to check out our website at www dot the crime shack dot com for the latest episodes and show notes. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram at the Crime Shack podcast and on Twitter at the Crime Shack.
Podcast Sources
Autopsy Reports Detail TN Woman's Grisley Killing of Adopted Children
Transcript of the 911 Calls in the Fort Bend Family Shooting
Autopsy Reports Detail TN Woman's Grisley Killing of Adopted Children
Transcript of the 911 Calls in the Fort Bend Family Shooting
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