A Texas community is mourning the loss of a mother and daughter who were killed in an apparent murder-suicide last week.
Authorities identified the victims as 58-year-old Deffenia Lynch and her 41-year-old daughter, Iosha Shaw.
The tragic incident unfolded on Thursday, Feb. 27, when Hutto police responded to a call from a man claiming to have killed two people and threatening to take his own life.
When officers arrived at the residence, they attempted to communicate with the caller, 60-year-old Kerry Carter. However, before officers could intervene, they heard a gunshot from inside the house. Upon entering the residence, they discovered all three individuals deceased.
Authorities reported that the garage was closed and filled with smoke, and accelerants were found inside both the vehicle and the home, suggesting a possible attempt to start a fire.
Loved ones took to social media to grieve the loss of Lynch and Shaw, confirming their mother-daughter relationship.
“Please keep my Shaw family in your thoughts and prayers. We lost two sweet souls yesterday,” wrote Aubri Taylor.
Another relative, Nakirah Tameka, posted:
“R.I.P to my cousin Iosha Shaw and her mother Daphney Lynch.”
The motive behind the killings remains unclear as investigators continue to piece together what led to the deadly act.
The tragedy has shaken the Hutto community, as friends and relatives remember Lynch and Shaw for the love and kindness they shared.
