Duluth, MN — In a heartrending incident, Duluth authorities reported the deaths of five individuals in what police are describing as a “senseless tragedy.” The grim discovery was made on Thursday afternoon, spanning two residences which claimed the lives of two adults and three children.
During a press briefing held on Friday, Duleth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa, alongside Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert and Superior, Wisconsin, Mayor Jim Paine, disclosed details of the harrowing event. Identified were 47-year-old Erin Abramson and her 15-year-old son, Jacob Nephew, found deceased in a home on the 6000 block of Tacony Street, both suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The subsequent police investigation led officers to another home on the 4400 block of West 6th Street. Here, authorities located 45-year-old Kathryn Nephew (Ramsland) and her 7-year-old son Oliver Nephew, also fatally shot. Anthony Nephew, 46, identified as the suspect, was found deceased in the same residence from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Chief Ceynowa disclosed that the suspect, Anthony, and one of the adult victims, Kathryn, were married and shared a child, while Anthony had also fathered a child with Erin Abramson, his other victim, from a previous relationship. He reflected on the impact of the tragedy, extending his condolences to the Duluth and Superior communities which both victims decisively influenced.
Jim Paine highlighted Erin Abramson’s significant role in Superior, where she led the city’s environmental services division and focused on protecting community health and the local environment, including efforts concerning Lake Superior. Paine expressed the city council’s and his colleagues’ deep sorrow and extended condolences to her grieving family and friends.
Neighbors described the victims as a caring and friendly blended family, well-regarded in their community. A marker of this esteem, a vigil quickly materialized at one of the crime scenes, paying tribute principally to the children involved.
Locals, including Lindsey Jungman, who knew the victims personally, shared candid memories. Jungman recalled the vibrant and caring nature of Oliver, describing him as “bubbly,” and Kathryn as embodying “kindness,” attributes that left indelible marks on those around them.
The shock has profoundly affected the community, notable for its infrequent violent incidents. Mayor Reinert noted the rare occurrence of such tragic events in the area, recalling a similar event from April 2022 when a murder-suicide claimed five lives, underscoring this incident’s exceptional brutality and communal impact.
The Duluth Police assured the public that there was no ongoing threat but mentioned investigations were ongoing, particularly looking into prior disturbances reported at the involved addresses.
In the face of this tragedy, local officials praised the rapid response and the efforts of public safety officials who arrived at the scene. As the community begins to process this inconceivable loss, support flows in from all quarters, aiming to heal a community punctured by a sudden and senseless act of violence. Resources and assistance for those afflicted by domestic issues have been amplified in the wake of this event, reflecting a collective commitment to preventing future tragedies.