Killer Dads: Fathers who ended their children's lives in situations involving child custody, visitation, and/or child support
VIRGINIA
Accomack County
Father: ESTEBAN QUINTERO-GONZALEZ
Victim(s): Jesus Quintero-Colon (10 years), Ana Estefani Quintero-Colon (9 years), mother Evelyn Estefani-Colon, apparently unrelated owner of home
Date of Death: December 2011
Father in “custody battle” broke into mother’s home and shot to death his two children, their mother, and another party in murder-suicide.
Chesterfield County
Father: BRANDON L. PARKER
Victim(s): Elijah Parker (2 months)
Date of Death: June 2010
Custodial dad charged with 2nd-degree murder. In June 2012, sentenced to one year in prison after being convicted of voluntary manslaughter.
Father: STAFFORD SHAW
Victim(s): Leah Rogers (age 1), Morgan Rogers (Leah's mother)
Date of Death: May 2015
Father had history of domestic violence, including choking, against at least two other women, including baby's mother. Also past charges of murder and arson, which were dismissed. Mother had received order of protection, with father required to do weekend jail only. Was scheduled to attend child support hearing, but shot 1-year-old daughter, and her mother instead. Two other people also died when father crashed his car, which also killed the father.
Franklin County
Father: JEREMIAH NEIDERHISER
Victim(s): 3-year-old son
Date of Death: August 2015
Father charged with involuntary manslaughter in shooting death of son. Reported that mother did not live in home, but custodial arrangements not explained.
Hanover County
Father: ROBERT D. KING
Victim(s): Twin daughters Caroline and Madison King (3 years)
Date of Death: January 2012
Father in "bitter custody battle" with children's mother stabbed twin daughters, then gassed them to death with carbon monoxide. Father, who committed suicide, had weekend visitation at time of murders. Protective mother's concerns ignored by authorities.
City of Hampton
Father: ANTHONY BROOKS
Victim(s): Antonio J. Brooks (14 years)
Date of Death: October 2013
Custodial dad charged with involuntary manslaughter in death of son. No update found as of October 2014.
City of Staunton
Father: STEVEN DECKER
Victim: Ezra Decker (6 years)
Date of Death: February 2016
Father charged with 2nd-degree murder, 19-year-old girlfriend charged with felony neglect. No mention of the boy's mother.
Norfolk County
Father: JOHN JONAS
Victim(s): Tasha Jonas (11 years)
Date of Death: May 2015
Custodial father kills daughter in murder-suicide, while out-of-state mother on the phone hearing daughter's last words. Dad allowed to do moveaway two years ago to Kentucky. Mother has spent last few years trying to regain custody, with hearing scheduled for August.
*Father: JOSHUA SAWYER
Victim(s): Carly Sawyer (5 years)
Date of Death: June 2009
Custodial father, stepmother charged with 2nd-degree murder. Mother lost custody during divorce, father denied mother contact. In October 2010, father sentenced to life in prison after conviction.
Roanoke County
Father: ROBERT KING
Victim(s): Twin daughters (3 years)
Date of Death: January 2012
Father in “custody battle” with children’s mother slashed children’s throats, funneled carbon monoxide into home in murder-suicide. Murders took place during weekend visitation.
Prince George’s County
Father: RICHMOND PHILLIPS
Victim(s): Jaylin Wright (1 year), Wynetta Wright (baby’s mother)
Date of Death: June 2011
Father charged in murders of daughter and ex-girlfriend, daughter's mother. Alleged that he wanted to avoid child support. Dad was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in March 2013.
Pulaski County
Father: HOWARD COLE
Victim(s): Corry Cole (5 months)
Date of Death: January 2014?
Despite extensive criminal history, father still awarded "joint custody" of infant. Father charged with "child abuse" in case. Body found in January 2014. Trial set for June 2015. Father's custody time was supposed to be supervised by his mother, the baby's paternal grandmother. She has been charged with felony child neglect.
Shanadoah County
Father: JEREMY VERMILLION
Victim(s): Talon Vermillion (18 months)
Date of Death: June 2013
Custodial father charged in death of son. Mom says her reports of abuse to social services were ignored. No update found as of October 2014. In January 2015, reported that father's girlfriend had pleaded guilty to murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison. Father only charged with endangerment as he claimed he had been at work.