Sara Gilson Duffey, 43, known for posting about parenting on social media, was fatally shot in an apparent murder-suicide by her husband, according to authorities and court records. The incident occurred shortly after she published a video alluding to allegations that he had molested a minor.
Bodies found at home in Collinsville
Jeremiah Shawn Duffey, 48, and Sara were found dead with gunshot wounds on 23 July at their home in Collinsville, a suburb of Tulsa. Police said investigators believed Jeremiah shot Sara and then himself.
Protective orders and allegations
Sara had sought a protective order on 10 June to keep Jeremiah away from the couple's home. The same day, another woman filed for a protective order for her daughter. Court filings reported by the Oklahoman said Jeremiah was caught by a youth basketball coach kissing and fondling the girl, and that he sent inappropriate texts and invited her to his hotel room. Sara's filing added that Jeremiah had a firearm, threatened suicide and “went on the run”.
TikTok video and emergency calls
On 11 July, Sara posted a video on TikTok sitting somber-faced with text reading, “Preparing for when Netflix drops a documentary about my soon to be ex husband who I just found out is a pedophile.” She wrote under her handle @mrsgilson, “I wish I was joking.”
Twelve days later, police received an emergency call at 11:15 pm from inside Sara's home. A woman could be heard screaming amid “what sounded to be a gunshot”, according to police. A second call came from a neighbor: a boy reported that his stepfather had shot his mother.
Aftermath and context
Police found both bodies at the scene. Sara's son was placed in custody of another parent. The video accumulated about 15 million views as of Sunday. According to the CDC, more than half of female homicide victims are killed by current or former male intimate partners, and about 20% of all homicide victims die at the hands of an intimate partner.
An online fundraiser described Sara as “an incredible mom” who “loved them fiercely… her children were the center of her world.”
