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Mourners continue leaving mementos and flowers outside the home of Felisha Matthews, the Connecticut woman who was killed along with her two daughters by her boyfriend before he died by suicide.
A makeshift memorial is ever-growing outside the home in Plainville, where the tragic triple murder-suicide unfolded Friday, March 27.
Patrick King, Matthews’ boyfriend, allegedly called his sister after the murders to tell her what he had done. He also told her intended to die, police said.
Officers arrived, and it led to an hours-long standoff with police. King was contacted by a SWAT negotiator but refused to exit peacefully.
After breaching a door, they found the bodies of Felisha, 31, their 4-year-old daughter Ava King, and Mileena Matthews, Felisha’s 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. All were shot to death.
The memorial forming on the family’s front steps includes Easter cards, fresh springtime flowers like tulips and stuffed bunny rabbits, according to WFSB. Over the weekend, the neighborhood was decorated with pink ribbons to remember the three victims.
Multiple neighbors said the family had only moved to Plainville in January and were just starting to make friends in the area.
Kristen St Pierre said her daughter goes to Middle School of Plainville with Mileena, who was new to the school but very friendly.
“Disbelief. My daughter was obviously distraught because she knew the girl,” St Pierre said.
Plainville schools offered grief counselors, and students coordinated to wear all black in Mileena’s memory.
Police continue to investigate but still have no motive for the violence.
Matthews was a former 911 dispatcher for the city of Waterbury.
Jennifer Knox of Plainville walks the neighborhood every day with her granddaughter.
“I walk this neighborhood … two to three times a day, you just never know when something could happen. Those poor, innocent children and that beautiful mother — I just don’t really have the words,” Knox said.
“Our hearts go out to the family’s friends and everyone in this community who is grieving and searching for answers,” said Plainville Town Council chairman Christopher Wazorko in a statement, according to the Hartford Courant. “The loss of life is deeply painful for this close-knit community, and we stand together in sorrow and compassion for all affected.”
FOX 61 spoke to one of Mileena’s classmates, Niko, who said she was always seen smiling.
“I heard that she was home or she wasn’t. I was just confused. It started with a bunch of cars, and then it was a SWAT truck in our driveway,” Niko told the local outlet. “She wasn’t at school too much; she was absent like two or three times a week.”
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can also call or text 988 for help, or chat with someone now at 988lifeline.org.
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