Psychologist Mom Killed Twin Daughters Before Committing Suicide
Therapist and licensed psychotherapist Dr. Michele Boudreau Deegan allegedly killed her twin daughters before taking her own life.
Her daughters were seven years old, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities in Whatcom County responded to a resident's call on Saturday afternoon. A man called to say that he found his landlord and her twin daughters dead inside a bedroom.
Authorities identified the dead bodies as Deegan and her twin daughters. Investigators said they believed that Deegan, 55 and a therapist, had shot the two girls while sleeping in their beds. She then turned the gun to herself after that.
Authorities believed that a custody dispute had been the primary motive behind the murder-suicide, according to a Meaww report.
Deegan was reportedly using the surname Angelis on her profession. Deegan's professional Facebook page revealed that she claimed to provide mental health counseling for adolescents, individuals, and couples.
The therapist had a bachelor's degree in social work as well as a master's degree in professional counseling, according to the official website for Rising Sun Health & Wellness.
Reports added that she also specialized in marriage and family therapy while working for her doctorate of psychology.
The incident took place in Sudden Valley, which is around 115 miles north of Seattle.
"At this time the Sheriff's Office is not releasing any further information in regards to this incident pending final autopsy results and the completion of the investigation," the police said in a statement.
Before the incident, Deegan shared on her Facebook an article with a title, "Narcissistic Parents Are Literally Incapable of Loving Their Children."
She also shared a video on her page with a title, "Narcissistic Parenting - A Set Up for Suicide. Deegan also wrote in a section of her website entitled "Anger & Violence."
"Violence is not an expression of anger, but a strategy to maintain power in a relationship," Deegan earlier wrote.
Another section on her website also revealed that violence is a tactic that is used in a relationship. The section includes that threatening divorce, taking the children, suicide, and violence are some nonphysical indicators of violence.
Deegan was also practicing a marital counseling method known as the Gottman Method, as shown on her website. The Gottman method uses the Sound Relationship House Theory to assess the couple's relationship.
Deegan had a Facebook fundraiser to support domestic violence and sexual assault services Of Whatcom County. This was back in September, as revealed in other reports.
Authorities involved in the investigation have yet to publicly identified the other person or people involved in the custody battle.
Deegan's and her daughters' bodies were turned over to the Whatcom County Medical Examiner's Office. Komo News reported that there would be autopsies for the body.
Murder-suicides are one of the common forms of gun violence in the United States. Approximately 11 incidents are being recorded each week.
Violence Policy Center studies found that over 1,200 Americans die in murder-suicides each year. Nine out of 10 of those cases involved a gun.
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