The home where Jennifer Berman, Alexander Berman and Jacqueline Berman were found dead in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 13, 2014.
A Florida woman who police say shot her two teenage children dead before killing herself Monday morning had sent her ex-husband an email saying she was doing the best thing for their family, and had texted her cousin that she planned to kill the kids.
Neighbors say Jennifer Berman was going through extreme financial and emotional stress throughout her divorce from the children’s father, Richard Berman, which was finalized last month. Jennifer Berman’s body was found Monday morning in their West Palm Beach home, along with the bodies of 16-year old Alex and 15-year old Jacqueline, NBC Miami reports.
Richard Berman called 911 on Monday morning, fearing for his children’s safety after receiving the disturbing email from his wife. “She sent me an email that she did the best thing for our family. And then she sent her cousin a text that she was going to kill the kids and herself,” he said in the 911 call, which was released Tuesday.
But by the time he reached the house, it was too late. “I was just touching his head. He wasn’t waking up,” the father told 911 dispatchers. “His alarm was on, and there was blood in his ear.”
The Bermans reportedly had a long and acrimonious divorce process, beginning in 2008. Court records show that Jennifer Berman had filed for temporary alimony and child support, and that she asked a judge to kick her husband out of their home because of what she called extreme emotional abuse.