Woman in Custody Battle Shoots and Kills Two Young Children, Then Herself

A woman in Portland shot and killed her two children before killing herself, according to local police. 

Ashley Palmer, 31, was found dead with her 8-year-old and 6-year-old children following an apparent murder-suicide. The Gresham woman was in the middle of a custody conflict with her spouse, per The Oregonian/OregonLive, and her body was found by the East County Major Crimes Team at her apartment. The outlet identified the children as 6-year-old Kayleana Beatrice Palmer and 8-year-old Xavier Rayvaughn Danger Palmer.

Police were called about a welfare check on Tuesday around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, before they discovered the bodies in the Rockwood Village complex. Palmer and her spouse, Jenavie Palmer, reportedly separated in 2018 and were dealing with a “pretty bad” custody dispute. 

“We were in the middle of trial and the children were going back and forth between our houses,” Jenavie told The Oregonian. 

Jenavie said that before the bodies were discovered, Ashley sent her a text linking to a YouTube playlist featuring the words “mother children murder suicide 2022.” This prompted her to call authorities, who could not enter the apartment and had to try again in the morning. 

“Our hearts are with the school community in this time, and we are making additional resources and supports available to students, staff, and families,” Portland Public Schools, where the two children reportedly attended classes, said in a statement.

Jenavie said Xavier was “smart and full of love,” while Kayleana was a painter who loved unicorns. She last saw them the weekend before Mother’s Day. 

“They were loved,” Jenavie said. “They had their whole lives ahead of them and it was stolen from them. They are going to be very, very missed.”

If you or someone you know is in a suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).