Susan Eubanks in CA:The 33 y.o.mommy who slaughtered all 4 of her sons on Sunday,a detailed update
mg
Joe1orbit wrote:
> > Hello,
> > Here is a nicely detailed article on Susan Eubanks and her extremely
> successful family massacre. On Sunday afternoon and evening, Susan was at home
> with all FOUR of her sons, aged 4, 6, 7,and 14. At some point during the
> night, Susan picked up a handgun and shot ALL four of her sons, in the head.
>
Joe,
At some point, I know I'll regret writing this, because it gives you the
attention you crave; but even so, I find this response automatic.
I am near tears that such a tragedy as this has happened; then you
exploit the deaths of these fours boys just so you can spin the
attention to you. This is what you said about four children:
"So there ya have it, a perfect score for Susan, she> shot all four of
her sons, and all four of them are now dead. Dead as> doornails".
What compels you to turn this horrific crime to fodder to feed your ego?
No one's death deserves that treatment, but most especially the deaths
of children should never be addressed as more than that. The simple
statement of the death of any child is a vile report, a contradiction
on the living out of life.
>
> And we also get the typically mournful remwmberences of the dead boys.
Mournful? That's as is should be Joe, for the death of any child. What
should be said Joe, from any decent person, about the death of four
children?
>
> Certainly this is quite a fascinating case, especially since Susan DID
> survive and will stand trial for murdering all four of her sons. I will try to
> follow it, as best I can.
>
You're going to follow it? I cringe to think of that....
mg
marilyn
Joe1orbit
Hello,
Here is a nicely detailed article on Susan Eubanks and her extremely
successful family massacre. On Sunday afternoon and evening, Susan was at home
with all FOUR of her sons, aged 4, 6, 7,and 14. At some point during the
night, Susan picked up a handgun and shot ALL four of her sons, in the head.
Three of the boys died at the scene, immediately after being shot. We learn in
this update that the fourth boy, the youngest, aged 4, who was alive when
police arrived at the house and broke down the door, did indeed die yesterday
afternoon in the hospital. So there ya have it, a perfect score for Susan, she
shot all four of her sons, and all four of them are now dead. Dead as
doornails.
After shooting the four boys in the head, fatally. Susan then proceeded to
shoot herself in the STOMACH, NOT in the head. She survived, is listed in fair
condition, and is now expected to recover fully from her wound, although she
remains in the hospital. She will be formally charged with four counts of
murder, very soon. I think it's extremely interesting how Susan did NOT shoot
herself in the head, as she did her four sons.
We get a LOT of family background info in the below article. We learn that
Susan has been dealing with several personal problems during the past year,
including domestic abuse, divorce, and debt.
Police went to the house after receiving a phone call from Susan's estranged
husband, who is the father of the three youngest boys that Susan killed. They
have been married for seven years, but were currently not living together.
Susan had left a message on his answering machine, that caused our estranged
hubby to become worried about her and the children.
We get a detailed outline of Susan's day on Sunday, how she went to a sports
bar with her new boyfriend, watched some football, drank some alcohol, and
then got into an argument with this new boyfriend. According to this article,
police were AT the house just HOURS before Susan committed this massacre! It
was susan's boyfriend who called the police and asked them to come to the
house, while he removed some of his personal property from her house.
At some point during the day, Susan flattened the tires and broke the
headlights of this boyfriend's car, as well! The boyfriend than walked away
from her house, and encountered Susan's HUSBAND, and they both went back to
the same sports bar, TOGETHER, and had some drinks! This all happened on
Sunday, PRIOR to Susan massacring her four sons! This is a very strange
scenario indeed.
The boyfriend is refusing to speak to reporters about Susan or the
relationship.
On September 5th, a month and a half ago, Susan filed for divorce from her
hubby. They had been married since 1990. Hubby WAS abusive. In August he pled
guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge against Susan. She also filed for a
restraining order against him just one week after filing for the divorce,
alleging that he had tried to choke her while drunk, in June.
And we also get the typically mournful remwmberences of the dead boys.
Certainly this is quite a fascinating case, especially since Susan DID
survive and will stand trial for murdering all four of her sons. I will try to
follow it, as best I can.
Take care, JOE
The following appears courtesy of the 10/28/97 online edition of The San
Diego Union-Tribune newspaper:
Four 'beautiful boys' are dead; mother under guard at hospital
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By J. Harry Jones and Lola Sherman
STAFF WRITERS
October 28, 1997
Authorities say they know what happened Sunday night: Four children were killed
by their mother, who then shot herself in the stomach.
What they don't know is why.
"What could possibly be a motive for this?" longtime Sheriff's Department
homicide Sgt. Steve Wood said yesterday. "It surprises me and it doesn't
surprise me. It disgusts me and makes me crazy.
"These were four beautiful boys."
Susan Dianne Eubanks -- who according to court records was dealing with
divorce, domestic abuse and debt -- was under guard and listed in fair
condition at a hospital. Authorities said the 33-year-old woman will be
charged with four counts of murder.
About 7:15 p.m. Sunday, sheriff's Deputies Daniel Reese and Brian Perry went to
Eubanks' modest rented home off South Twin Oaks Valley Road, less than a mile
west of Cal State San Marcos near Bolotin Lane. When they got to the door they
heard a woman asking for help.
They broke through the front door and found Susan Eubanks bleeding from the
stomach. They also found three boys -- ages 6, 7 and 14 -- dead. They had been
shot in the head. One of them was found lying in his bunk bed.
Another boy, age 4, was taken to Children's Hospital, where he died yesterday
afternoon.
A fifth boy, Eubanks' 5-year-old nephew, the son of her estranged husband's
deceased brother, was found uninjured sitting on a bed in a separate bedroom.
"He was very traumatized," Wood said. "We're not sure why he wasn't killed."
The boys who were killed have been identified as Matthew D. Eubanks, 4; Brigham
"Reno" Eubanks, 6; Austin C. Eubanks, 7; and Brandon C. Armstrong, 14.
The nephew, who had been living with the family, was identified by authorities
as Aaron Storm Stanley. Yesterday, he was staying with a friend of the family
and may be placed in a county foster home, authorities said.
The deputies had gone to Eubanks' house after Eric Dale Eubanks, Susan Eubanks'
husband since 1990 and father of the three youngest victims, received a
voice-mail message from his wife.
The contents of the message have not been revealed, but the message prompted
Eric Eubanks to call 911 and ask that deputies be sent to his former home.
Drinking, watching football
This is what is known about how Susan Eubanks spent Sunday, according to
authorities and some of her acquaintances:
She and her boyfriend, Rene Dobson, had been at the North Bar on West El Norte
Parkway in Escondido, drinking and watching the first half of the Chargers
game.
The couple, who sources said had been dating for about six months, left to go
back to Eubanks' house. They had been arguing.
It was unknown what happened next. However, between 3 and 4 p.m. Dobson called
deputies to Eubanks' house. He wanted them to stand by as he removed some
tools and other items from the house.
At some point at the house, Susan Eubanks flattened the tires on Dobson's
vehicle and broke his headlights.
Dobson then walked away from the house and encountered Susan Eubanks' husband,
Eric, and the two men ended up back at the North Bar, where they stayed
together for several hours. Why they were together was unclear.
Dobson declined to be interviewed yesterday when contacted at the North Bar.
Patrons of the bar said yesterday that Susan Eubanks had been acting strangely
for months.
"I told Rene once, 'You better break up with her,' " one patron said. "She told
me she was divorcing her husband to be with Rene, but I don't think he wanted
that. A few weeks ago she went out and broke the windshield wipers off Rene's
truck."
It was while Eric Eubanks, a cabinet maker, and Dobson, a construction
tradesman, were still at the bar Sunday evening that Eric Eubanks received a
page, indicating he had a voice-mail message. When he checked, he heard the
message from his estranged wife and then called the emergency line.
Troubled life
According to court documents, Susan Eubanks' life was filled with troubles,
both romantic and financial.
On Sept. 5, she filed divorce papers against her husband of seven years,
stating, among other things, that he was abusive. In August, Eric Eubanks
pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge against his wife and received
three years' probation.
In papers requesting a restraining order against her husband filed Sept. 12,
Susan Eubanks said Eric Eubanks flew into a drunken rage on June 16 and began
choking her.
In documents requesting child support payments, Susan Eubanks said she had been
unemployed since August, was receiving worker's compensation and had credit
card bills of $40,000.
Susan and Eric Eubanks were due to appear in court again next week on matters
related to their divorce proceedings.
Boys remembered
Meanwhile friends, teachers and coaches of the boys remembered them yesterday.
Brandon was a center on the freshman football team at San Marcos High School;
Austin played on the San Marcos Crusaders' Pop Warner football team; and
Brigham, too young for tackle football, played flag football.
An adult involved in Pop Warner football who asked that his name not be used
said the Eubanks boys' father was "very supportive of his children."
"He was at every practice, every game," the man said.
And Austin, he said, "was great. He always had a smile on his face. He was
enthusiastic and energetic -- a great all-around kid."
"I can tell you," he said, "it is tragic they are not with us anymore."
The Eubanks boys had attended Woodland Park Elementary last year, where Austin
was in the first grade and Brigham was in kindergarten. Woodland became a
middle school this year, and the younger boys were transferred to the new
Discovery Elementary School, which opened in July.
The school, which has a year-round schedule, is not in session. Inquiries about
the boys at the school were referred to the school district office.
"There is no better crisis counseling than to be with their families," said
Susan Maki, assistant superintendent for instructional services.
Sondra Rosenthal, principal at Woodland Park, remembered all three boys.
"They were happy boys, all-around good students," Rosenthal said. "Brandon went
through Woodland Park. He was with us since kindergarten. He was an all-around
fine student, and a good athlete, well loved by his fellow students."
Yesterday was to be a practice day for the San Marcos High School freshman
football team in preparation for Thursday's game against Rancho Buena Vista
High School.
Instead, Leonard Gann, head coach of the freshman team, assembled the boys --
there are 68 on the team -- on the grass outside the locker room, discussed
Brandon's death, and told them the students could seek counseling or go home.
San Marcos High Principal Robert Harman said about 50 other students sought
assistance from four professional counselors, 10 to 12 peer counselors and
additional staff members who volunteered to help.
Harman said students were signing a memorial to Brandon, and counseling will
continue to be made available this week.
Coach Gann said Brandon's B average would have qualified him for special
student-athlete honors at the end of the semester, and he will receive them
posthumously.
Gann noted that Brandon never missed practice -- unless he had to baby-sit his
younger brothers.
"He was a tremendous kid -- always pleasant," he said. "I never saw him do
anything negative. He had a nice smile, and he was always willing to take on
more work."
A few of Brandon's teammates lingered outside the locker room, quietly
reminiscing yesterday.
Daniel Bruin remembered how much Brandon loved football and his favorite
professional team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"He always had a smile," Jason Webb said. Graham Mussard added, "He made you
laugh."
But the recollection Brandon probably would appreciate the most was Coach
Gann's.
Last week against Poway, Gann said, "He played his best game of the year."
Staff writers Anna Cearley and Greg Moran contributed to this story.
Joe1orbit
Hello,
Here is an update on Susan Eubanks, the 33 year old woman who shot and killed
ALL FOUR of her sons, aged 4,6,7, and 14, pumping bullets into their brains at
point-blank range, and then shooting herself in the stomach. Susan survived
her own self-inflicted wound, and is now recovered in the hospital.
Yesterday she was formally arraigned and charged with four counts of murder,
while she lay in her hospital bed. Was Susan conscious and alert? Yes, she
indeed was. Seems to be making a decent recovery from her gunshot wound,
although she is still hooked up to a respirator. She pled NOT guilty to al 4
murder charges yesterday. Pretty cool plea. So, it looks like this case will
go to trial. The prosecutor has announced that he MAY seek the death penalty
against Susan, although it is extremely unlikely that any parent who kills
their offspring, even if she kills FOUR of her possessions/slaves, will be
given a death penalty verdict.
The next hearing in this case is scheduled for November 21st, at which time
Susan should be well on her way to a full recovery from her gunshot wound.
Take care, JOE
The following appears courtesy of yesterday's United Press International news
wire:
Mom pleads not guilty in sons' deaths
United Press International
Wed, 29 Oct 1997
ESCONDIDO, Calif., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A woman accused of killing her four sons
pleaded not guilty to the charges from her hospital bed, communicating her
plea in writing because she is hooked to a respirator.
A San Diego County assistant district attorney says 33-year-old Susan Eubanks,
who is recovering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen, was
arraigned today on four counts of murder. A special circumstances charge was
filed that allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
Assistant District Attorney Giacomo Bucci said, ``She was alert and aware and
she denied all the charges.'' A hearing was set for Nov. 21 to assess
Eubanks's physical condition.
Eubanks allegedly quarreled with a boyfriend Sunday, hours before the deaths of
her sons, 14-year-old Brandon Armstrong, 7-year-old Austin Eubanks, 6-year-old
Brigham Eubanks and 4-year-old Matthew Eubanks.
Autopsies showed that all four had been killed with a close-range shot to the
head from a .38-caliber pistol.
Sheriff's Department officials say on the day of the shootings Eubanks and her
boyfriend Rene Dobson began arguing while watching a televised football game
at a bar.
Deputies were later called to Eubanks' San Marcos home by neighbors to quell a
loud confrontation between the two that threatened to turn violent. Dobson
told authorities he then collected his belongings and left, telling Eubanks
the relationship was over.
When deputies returned hours later to check on the family, they discovered
three of the boys shot dead, the fourth barely alive, and their mother lying
on her bedroom floor with a gun nearby.