BETHANY, Okla. — A tragic incident has left a community in shock after a father reportedly shot and killed his six-year-old daughter before taking his own life. The bodies of Billy Feaster, 29, and his daughter, Elizibeth, were discovered in the backyard of their home on Sunday. Authorities from the Bethany Police Department are treating the situation as a murder-suicide, prompting an ongoing investigation.
Police Chief J.D. Reid described the event as “absolutely terrible” and referred to it as a tragic loss for the community. The incident has raised concerns not only about the immediate loss of innocent life but also about the history leading up to this catastrophic moment.
Court documents reveal a troubling past for Feaster, who was embroiled in a custody battle with the children’s mother since 2018. The mother, whose identity has not been disclosed, was granted full custody by a judge while Feaster was limited to supervised visitation for just four to six hours each week. Legal analyst Ed Blau noted the significance of these restrictions, indicating that such measures were likely enforced due to serious concerns over Feaster’s behavior.
The custody arrangement had been in effect since March 2020, according to court records. Blau emphasized that no further legal motions for emergency hearings had been filed in the time leading up to this tragic event. The mother of Feaster’s children initially sought a custody ruling in December 2018. In this filing, she alleged that Feaster had become violent, including an incident where he allegedly broke her phone to prevent her from seeking help.
Further court documents cited disturbing claims, including an account of physical violence against their three-year-old son during the same weekend the mother filed for custody. This history of violence could have greatly influenced the judge’s decision to limit Feaster’s visitation rights, as Blau pointed out the legal presumption of joint custody typically applies unless significant concerns exist.
As part of the custody proceedings, Feaster attempted to file a protective order against his children’s mother shortly after she sought custody. However, a judge dismissed this request in March 2020, affirming the mother’s claims and highlighting the complexities of their ongoing legal struggle.
While police continue to investigate the motivations behind Sunday’s tragic events, the case serves as a painful reminder of the potential consequences of unresolved domestic conflicts. The loss of Elizibeth has resonated deeply within the local community, sparking conversations about domestic violence, the importance of proper legal protections, and the need for interventions in similar situations.
As authorities delve deeper into this case, the community remains in mourning, grappling with the loss and seeking to understand how such a tragedy could occur.