Mum, 40, and 6-year-old twins found dead at home amid divorce
Police are investigating the horrifying deaths of a mother and her two kids which occurred just 24 hours after she lost a custody battle.
An American mum and her 6-year-old twins were shot dead in their mansion amid a bitter divorce battle with her doctor husband, according to authorities.
The bodies of Charity Beallis, 40, and the former couple’s young daughter and son were found inside the $US 760,000 (about $AU 1.2m) home in Arkansas, in a city near the Oklahoma border during a welfare check on December 3, the New York Post reports.
Mrs Beallis’ estranged husband, Dr. Randall Beallis, had been arrested in March for domestic violence when he choked his wife at their home, 5 News reported.
It is not suggested he had anything to do with the tragic incident, with police stating in a recent statement he “was not a suspect”.
Dr Beallis pleaded guilty to the charge and received a one-year suspended sentence and was ordered to pay more than $US 1500 (about $AU $2262) in court fees.
Mrs Beallis filed for divorce from her husband that same month and was seeking full custody of their children, court documents show.
She and the kids were found dead the day after a divorce hearing at the Sebastian County Courthouse, KNWA reported.
Randall had been awarded joint custody of the kids at the hearing, which was the final proceeding in the parents’ divorce, said the outlet and the physician’s lawyer, Michael Pierce.
He’s since denied any suggestion that he is involved in the deaths of his estranged-wife and their twins, stating he is “heartbroken” at the situation.
“Mr Beallis was not responsible for the death of Mrs. Beallis nor his children’s deaths,” Mr Pierce said in a statement to theNew York Post.
“Mr Beallis has been cooperative with law enforcement and fully supports the Sebastian County Sheriff’s office investigation.
“We hope that the sheriff’s office finds the truth about what happened to Mrs. Charity Beallis and their children.”
He added that his client had “given a voluntary interview and allowed access to anything requested by the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office in their investigation”.
Six search warrants have already been served, with police stating “investigators are working hard to get answers,” in a statement to 4029 News.
In August, Mrs Beallis opened up about what she described as her “battle” in a comment under a news story.
“I’m living this battle right now. I am the victim, yet I’ve been treated like the problem while the criminal — a local doctor — is being shielded by the very system that’s supposed to protect us,” she claimed.
“I’ve tried to reach Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Shue, but he won’t even accept a letter from me.
“My voice, as the victim, has been shut out. This is not just about me — this is about a system that protects offenders and rejects victims. Lives are at stake, including the lives of young children.”
Meanwhile family of Mrs Beallis and the children have spoken out about the loss.
“Those kids were precious. Real precious, and they were innocent,” Charity’s oldest son, and half-brother to the twins, John Powell, told KNWA.
He said his mum “would have fought tooth and nail, which is why she may have been shot twice”.
“I know she went out with a fight,” he said.
Mrs Beallis’ father, Randy Powell, said he is still coming to terms with what happened.
“One minute I’ll be crying and the next moment I’ll be mad, I don’t know how to explain it,” he told KNWA.
“I never expected to ever have to go through something like this in my life,” he said.
This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission
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Originally published as Mum, 40, and 6-year-old twins found dead at home amid divorce
