We have often observed here at Dastardly Dads that a killer dad's custodial status is often left ambiguous. And so it is here.
The fact that the NEIGHBORS had to call the police for the perceived lack of "activity" at the house strongly suggests that no mother was living in the home. The fact that the mother wasn't the one calling also suggests that contact with her had been lost for some reason.
So once again, we see that a depressed, volatile, and violent father somehow gained and retained access to/control of a toddler--only to slaughter said toddler--and we have to ask how and why.
Was the mother deceased? If so, do we know for a fact that her death was from natural causes? Did she "disappear"? If so, do we know if she is "missing" because of death threats or past domestic violence? Is she "missing" because her body is well hidden? Did the father gain custody through the courts? If so, who were the officials involved? We just don't know because we just aren't told.
When a father is capable of shooting to death a tiny 2-year-old child he is more than capable of committing other violent crimes as well.
Dad is identified as CHRISTOPHER MELLING.
http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/Deaths-Of-Father-Toddler-239414921.html
Deaths Of Father, Toddler A Murder-Suicide
By: The Associated Press
Posted: Thu 7:27 AM, Jan 09, 2014
The Nebraska State Patrol says the shooting deaths of a Burwell, Nebraska man and his 2-year-old daughter are being investigated as a murder-suicide.
The bodies of 31-year-old Christopher Melling and his daughter Aimee, who would have turned 3 later this month, were found Tuesday afternoon after officers were sent to the house to check on the residents. Neighbors had reported their concerns after seeing no activity at the central Nebraska home.
A gun was found at the scene. Autopsies will be done before the end of the week.
"It's always tough when you have a suicide in town and we have dealt with those, but in this case we have a young child that's involved and I think that grabs everyone's hearts," said Garfield County Attorney Dale Crandall.