Anthony Nephew, a 46-year-old Minnesota man, fatally shot himself, his wife, ex-partner, and two children shortly after Donald Trump’s victory.
According to officials, Nephew, who had shown signs of mental health struggles, was distraught over Trump’s win.
Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa reported that Nephew had a “pattern of mental health issues.”
The victims—his ex-partner Erin Abramson, 47, their son Jacob Nephew, 15, his current wife Kathryn Nephew, 45, and their 7-year-old son Oliver Nephew—were found dead in two different homes on Thursday.
Authorities noted that prior to the shootings, Nephew had been vocal about his distress over the state of the country and religion, expressing fears of being persecuted.
“My mental health and the world can no longer peacefully coexist, and a lot of the reason is religion,” he wrote in July.
“I am terrified of religious zealots inflicting their misguided beliefs on me and my family. I have intrusive thoughts of being burned at the stake as a witch or crucified on a burning cross,” he added.
He also condemned Republicans, saying they were “making it harder for women to leave” abusive relationships, and referenced The Handmaid’s Tale, alluding to a dystopian future.
In another social media post, Nephew shared a collage of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump, with the word “hate” under Trump’s image.
He wrote, “Not that anyone cares, but as an Independent voter, I would really like to see both political parties pick better candidates… We can do better than a binary choice between fascism and not fascism.”
Nephew had previously issued a somber warning about mental health, writing in a 2021 Duluth News Tribune op-ed, “For millions of Americans, a breakdown leads to suicide — or homicide before suicide.”
“Mental health in this country is stigmatized, ignored, or treated as a burden for the individual to bear alone,” he noted.
“Americans deny they have mental health struggles — because they have to, because they’re told to, or because they don’t realize their mind is broken.”
Duluth police have yet to determine a definitive motive but assured the community of their safety, confirming that there is no ongoing threat.
