A distressed father tragically shot his autistic son and the family’s pet dog before taking his own life in their Oklahoma residence, the same place where his wife had died by suicide three years prior, authorities and reports stated.
Rodney Shippy, 58, was discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and had allegedly taken the life of his 10-year-old son, Logan, in what appeared to be a murder-suicide at their ill-fated home in Broken Arrow, announced the Broken Arrow Police Department.
The police came across the deceased family and the dog on Wednesday afternoon while executing a search warrant, following concerns from relatives living out of state who reported that Shippy’s daughter, Alyssa, had been missing since November.
The 20-year-old’s lifeless body was later found inside the disheveled home.
A medical examiner is working to confirm her cause of death, police said.
“We are heartbroken to share that two beloved members of our family, Alyssa and Logan (brother and sister) passed away tragically and unexpectedly,” the children’s grief-stricken family wrote on a GoFundMe.
“Their loss has left our family in deep grief and unprepared for the financial burden that comes with arranging their funerals.”
The grim discovery marks the latest in a series of tragic deaths that have haunted the family since August 2022, when the disturbed father’s wife, Lisa Shippy, 41, killed herself at the same West Roanoke Street house, KJRH reported.
Five months later, Lisa’s mother, Diane Carpenter, 56, was stabbed to death by her husband, 66-year-old Kenny Carpenter, who then shot himself during a four-hour standoff with police in South Broken Arrow.
Neighbors and loved ones, who said Logan was nonverbal, described the family’s doomed residence as “not suitable” for children, adding that the tormented father became increasingly isolated following his wife’s death.
“No running water, trash — looked like a completely different house,” relative Patti Williams told the outlet.
“[Rodney] seemed to be holding it together for months after [Lisa] passed … then he started estranging himself to everyone.”
While a motive behind the heinous slaying remains unknown, public records suggest that Shippy was on the verge of losing his house, which he purchased with his wife in 2021, People reported.
In January, US Bank National Association filed a foreclosure notice on the residence in Tulsa County District Court, citing $135,000 in unpaid principal. Rodney was given until June to respond to the court notice, records showed.
As the investigation continues, Williams said the children’s lives were savagely cut short.
“Logan was so smart, eager to learn, everyone who met him loved him,” Williams told KJRH.
“Alyssa was a bright light in this world. She had a beautiful life ahead of her, and I feel like their lives are stolen from them.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
