Connecticut woman Debra Denison shoots grandkids, then herself
A WOMAN who picked up her two young grandsons from daycare drove them to a neighbouring town and shot and killed the children and herself.
The bodies of 47-year-old Debra Denison and her grandsons, 2-year-old Alton Perry and 6-month-old Ashton Perry, were found on Tuesday night in a car parked near Lake of Isles in Preston, Connecticut.
State police called the deaths a double murder-suicide, saying they believe Denison shot the boys and herself. Autopsies were planned.
Family members said Denison had bipolar disorder and a history of mental health problems.
Tuesday was Alton's second birthday. Denison picked up the children from their daycare in North Stonington on Tuesday afternoon and was supposed to bring them home so Alton could open his presents, family members said.
"I wanted him to come home and play with his new toys and have a good day," Alton's mother, Brenda Perry, told WVIT-TV.
In Facebook postings, Brenda Perry thanked people for their prayers and said she loved her sons.
"God (has) two beautiful angels helping him now," the postings said. "My boys are in an amazing place we got a few great angels watching over us. love you Ashton and alton."
On Monday she wrote: "So excited making mini cupcakes and play dough for Altons day tomorrow can't believe 2 years old already. So blessed"
Perry and her husband, Jeremy, told WVIT that Denison had a gun and suffered from split personalities.
Denison was armed with a gun when she left her home on Tuesday afternoon and had permission to pick up the boys from the daycare, state police spokesman Lieutenant J. Paul Vance said.
A phone message seeking comment was left at the daycare, Kidds & Co. A posting on the daycare's Facebook page said, "Our love and prayers are with the Perry family ... we are here to offer our support to all our families and staff."
The bodies were found at about 9:30 pm (1:30pm Wednesday AEDT) on Tuesday, about two hours after state police issued a statewide Amber Alert for Denison and the boys.