A heartbroken father has spoken out after his two young sons were murdered by their mother in a horrific quadruple murder-suicide that also claimed the life of her elderly grandmother.
A Tragic Discovery in Waverly
On January 2, 2026, deputies from the Humphreys County Sheriff's Office conducted a welfare check at a home in Waverly, Tennessee. Inside, they made a grim discovery: the bodies of four individuals, all with gunshot wounds.
The victims were identified as four-year-old Arius Thompson, 13-year-old Isaiah Johnson, 88-year-old Evelyn Johnson, and 32-year-old Heather Thompson. Authorities stated that preliminary evidence indicates Heather Thompson killed the three other victims before taking her own life.
A Father's Grief and a Community in Shock
The boys' father, Jeremiah Thompson, who was estranged from Heather, shared his anguish on social media. He said the loss had "shattered" him, calling his sons "just babies." Jeremiah, who works as a sandwich maker at Subway, has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to bring his children's bodies back home to New Mexico from Tennessee. The campaign has seen an outpouring of support, raising nearly $11,000 towards its $16,000 goal.
Sheriff Chris Davis told reporters that investigators found no sign of forced entry and believe no one else was involved. He confirmed that Evelyn Johnson was Heather Thompson's grandmother. Notably, there had been no prior domestic-violence or mental health-related calls to the residence, and a possible motive has not been released.
A Sheriff's Emotional Response
Sheriff Davis became emotional while addressing the media, revealing the personal impact of the small-town tragedy. "Here again, small-town America. Here again, I know the families," he told WSMV-TV. "So, we're going to do right by them. We're going to respect them."
The investigation into the disturbing New Year massacre continues as the community of Waverly grapples with the immense loss.
