In a tragic incident in Minnesota, a man identified as Anthony Nephew, 46, took the lives of his wife, ex-partner, and two sons before ending his own life, as reported by local law enforcement. Nephew, who had a history of mental health issues, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home, where his wife Kathryn, 45, and their 7-year-old son Oliver were also found dead.
The day prior, authorities had discovered the bodies of Nephew’s ex-partner Erin Abramson, 47, and their 15-year-old son Jacob in their residence. Both had died from gunshot wounds. The two homes where the bodies were found are located in close proximity in the city of Duluth.
Nephew had been vocal about his mental health struggles and political views on social media. In a post from July, he wrote, “My mental health and the world can no longer peacefully coexist, and a lot of the reason is religion.” He expressed fear of religious extremists imposing their beliefs on him and his family, and shared his intrusive thoughts of being persecuted for his beliefs.
In another post, Nephew criticized Republicans for making it difficult for women to escape abusive relationships. He referenced “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a dystopian novel and television series where women are stripped of their rights and forced to bear children for the ruling class. He also shared political posts featuring images of former President Barack Obama, President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris, with the word “hate” under Trump’s face and words like “hope,” “heal,” and “grow” under the Democratic politicians.
In July, Nephew expressed dissatisfaction with the political candidates from both parties, stating, “We can do better than a binary choice between fascism and not fascism.” He had previously written an op-ed in the Duluth News Tribune in 2021, warning about the consequences of mental health struggles and criticizing the stigma and lack of understanding surrounding mental health in the country.
The Duluth Police Department, which serves a city of nearly 90,000 residents about 135 miles north of Minneapolis, has not yet established a motive for the shootings. They have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to the community.