Indignant about her husband’s absence, 25-year-old West Virginia girl kills 5 youngsters, then herself – CBS Pittsburgh

FAIRLEA, W.Va. (AP) – Five children found dead after a house fire in West Virginia late last year were shot dead by their mother, who then took her own life, authorities said Thursday.

Greenbrier County Sheriff Bruce Sloan revealed details of the shootings and fire at a December 8 press conference. He said Oreanna Antoinette Myers, 25, shot her three children and two stepchildren at her home near Williamsburg. The children were between 1 and 7 years old.

The children’s bodies were found inside while Myers was found outside, Sloan said.

Myers’ husband stayed with relatives instead of home during the work week due to transportation problems, Sloan said. Text messages between Myers and her husband indicated that his absence during the week had been “a tremendous source of contention” between them.

Sloan said he did not know if the woman was receiving treatment for a diagnosed mental illness at the time of death. In a note she left, according to the sheriff, she complained about the lack of treatment for mental illness.

Myers texted her husband on the day of the shootings saying she left something in her vehicle for him. A letter addressed to him was found with a bloody fingerprint next to their initials, Sloan said.

The sheriff said the woman also put three notes in a plastic bag and taped them on a side mirror of the family vehicle, including phone numbers to reach relatives, a confession and a will.

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