Father Learns on Facebook Mom Killed Children, Grandma, and Herself

HUMPHREYS COUNTY, TN (THECOUNT.COM) — Heather Thompson, 32, a nurse practitioner from Waverly, Tennessee, fatally shot her two young sons, Arius Thompson, 4, and Isaiah Johnson, 13, along with their grandmother, Evelyn Johnson, 88, before taking her own life, authorities confirmed. The incident has been classified as a quadruple murder-suicide.

Deputies with the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office discovered the bodies of Thompson, her sons, and the grandmother on January 2 during a welfare check at the family’s home. Sheriff Chris Davis, who said he personally knew the affected families, addressed the tragedy during a press briefing: “We’re going to do right by them. We’re going to respect them.”

Davis confirmed that there had been no prior domestic violence or mental health-related calls at the residence. Investigators are working closely with the local school system and other state agencies as part of their ongoing inquiry into the events that led to the deaths. Authorities have not released a motive, but evidence indicates Heather Thompson was solely responsible for the killings.

Heather Thompson was a licensed nurse practitioner at Ascension Saint Thomas Three Rivers Hospital in Tennessee. She earned her master’s degree from Walden University and had been employed in the healthcare field for several years. According to public records, she specialized in patient care and had a professional reputation in the local community prior to the incident.

Jeremiah “Biah” Thompson, the estranged husband of Heather Thompson and father of Arius and Isaiah, lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He first learned about the deaths through a Facebook message from a friend of his estranged wife. He told reporters he initially misunderstood the message, believing Heather had moved away, noting that she regularly sent him photos and videos of their sons even while they were separated.

Thompson recalled, “My wife’s friend called me on Facebook and explained the whole situation to me, and I didn’t know what she meant by ‘gone.’ I thought she meant, like, she moved away or something like that, which is weird because we have conversations every day. She would send me snaps of my sons and all that stuff, and we had a better relationship when we were not together than when we were together.”

He continued, “As a father, it shattered my soul to hear my sons, Arius and Isaiah, have been taken from me and are no longer with us. They were just babies. Every second of today, I wish I could just wake up.”

Neighbors described the family as close-knit despite the separation of the parents. Local residents said they were shocked by the events, noting that Heather Thompson had been seen as a caregiver both in her professional capacity and within her family.

Authorities have stated that they are following all leads and evidence in the investigation. Sheriff Davis emphasized that law enforcement is working with relevant agencies to ensure that all details are confirmed and that the investigation proceeds with diligence. At this time, there are no indications of additional victims or suspects involved.

Given the nature of the deaths and the traumatic impact on surviving family members and the local community, officials are urging anyone struggling with grief, thoughts of self-harm, or emotional distress to seek immediate help. In the United States, individuals can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for confidential support and guidance.

Family, friends, and the local community continue to process the shocking loss. Investigators have reiterated that the case remains under active investigation, and no further information regarding a motive has been released.

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