Police identified the woman’s 22-year-old son as the suspect after officers discovered all three family members during a welfare check.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. — A 43-year-old Minnesota nurse and her two adult sons were found dead inside their Inver Grove Heights townhome after police responded to a welfare check, with investigators saying preliminary findings point to a double murder-suicide involving the older son.
Authorities identified the three people as Jamie Lee Charles, 43; Jaymison Samuel Shaw, 22; and William Samuel Shaw Jr., 19. Inver Grove Heights Police Chief Melissa Chiodo said investigators identified Jaymison Shaw as the suspect and believe the incident was confined to the residence. Police have not publicly disclosed a motive, how the three died or whether a weapon was recovered.
Officers were sent Sunday, Aug. 30, to a residence in the 3200 block of 78th Street East after someone requested a welfare check. Emergency personnel were alerted to concerns at the address shortly before 11 a.m., according to dispatch information reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune. Officers entered the residence and found all three family members dead. Police initially said there was no known threat to the surrounding community.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the three people who died. On Tuesday, police released additional information about the investigation and said their findings so far indicated a double murder-suicide. “Based on the investigation to date, the incident appears to have been contained within the residence, and Jaymison Shaw has been identified as the suspect,” Chiodo said in a statement. The investigation remained active, and authorities had not released details explaining what led to the deaths.
Charles was a licensed practical nurse, according to Minnesota state records cited by the Star Tribune. Other reports said she had worked in nursing at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Family members and friends described her as a devoted mother whose death, along with the deaths of her sons, left relatives and members of the Inver Grove Heights community grieving.
Relatives created an online fundraiser to help the family with funeral and memorial expenses. Charles’ niece, Polly Morgan, wrote that the family was facing “unimaginable heartbreak” after losing three relatives at once. She said each family member had brought love and memories to those who knew them. A memorial also formed near the family’s residence as friends and community members gathered to remember those who died.
William Shaw Jr., widely known as Willie, had ties to Simley High School and its boys basketball program. The team posted a remembrance describing him as a friend and former teammate who had an impact on people around him. Community members also attended a vigil Monday, where relatives and friends shared memories of the family. The public tributes focused on the lives lost as investigators continued working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension assisted Inver Grove Heights police at the scene. Law enforcement agencies from several surrounding communities and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office also provided assistance during the response. Police said the incident presented no continuing danger to the public, indicating investigators did not believe another suspect was at large.
Authorities have been cautious about releasing additional details. Police have not announced a suspected motive, and no public account reviewed has established what happened inside the townhome before officers arrived. The method of the deaths also has not been publicly disclosed. Those unanswered questions remain part of the investigation, and police have asked the public to respect the privacy of relatives and others affected by the deaths.
Chiodo described the case as a deeply tragic event that has caused profound grief for the family and community. The department also acknowledged that scenes involving multiple deaths can have a significant emotional effect on officers, dispatchers and other emergency personnel who respond. Police said the department would continue supporting those affected while investigators complete their work.
As of Wednesday, authorities continued to describe the double murder-suicide finding as preliminary. Jaymison Shaw remained identified by police as the suspect, while Charles and William Shaw Jr. were identified as the other two people who died. No motive or further explanation for the deaths had been publicly released.
Author note: Last updated September 2, 2026.