JULIA MOORE - 6 yo -(2010) Westmont (W of Chicago) IL

Girl, 6, found shot to death with grandparents in Westmont apartment

Child was involved in custody battle
police suspect double murder-suicide

November 19, 2010|By Christy Gutowski and Gerry Smith, Tribune Reporters


A 6-year-old girl at the center of a custody battle was found shot to death along with her grandmother and step-grandfather inside their Westmont apartment Friday morning in what is being called a double murder-suicide, law enforcement officials said. The bodies of Julia Moore; Linda Brennan, 51; and Brennan's husband, Mark Chapman, 50, were found about 10 a.m. in an apartment in the 500 block of West 61st Street, police said. The girl was found in her bed with multiple gunshot wounds, said Charlie Dastych, chief deputy coroner for DuPage County. Police found the couple on the living room couch. Brennan had been shot several times, while Chapman had a single bullet wound, Dastych said. A gun was found on his lap, a law enforcement source said.

So, am I reading this correctly? This was the Step-Grandad who is suspected of this? Very unusual. Who was on the other side of the custody battle?
My suspicions lean toward something that he was trying to cover up that would have blown the case wide open.
It does seem strange Tom, that's for sure.

Westmont police suspect double murder-suicide after 3 found shot in apartment

One victim was a 6-year-old girl who was living with her grandparents amid custody battle

November 19, 2010|By Gerry Smith and Christy Gutowski, Tribune reporters
Many days when 6-year-old Julia Moore would return to her Westmont home after school, she'd find a message written on the sidewalk in chalk by her grandmother, according to an acquaintance. One such message read, "I hope you had a good day at school. I love you from here to eternity," according to Jillian Okonski, whose mother lived next door to the girl, her grandmother and her stepgrandfather. "She loved that little girl more than anything," Okonski said.http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-11-19/news/ct-met-westmont-murder-bd-1121-20101119_1_double-murder-suicide-custody-battle-westmont

A Westmont man apparently shot his step-granddaughter and girlfriend to death in their apartment, then killed himself with the same pistol, police said Saturday. A custody dispute over the little girl, six-year-old Julia A. Moore, may have helped cause the deadly shooting spree, police said.
Killed along with Julia in the shootings were her grandmother, 51-year-old Linda Brennan, and Brennan’s boyfriend, 50-year-old Mark Chapman, authorities have said.In a note that police believe was written by Chapman, he takes responsibility for shooting Brennan and her granddaughter, Westmont police said.Brennan and the little girl each were shot several times, while Chapman died of a single head wound that police, in a statement, said was “indicative of a self-inflicted gunshot.”But Brennan was wearing an earplug when she was found dead, a law enforcement source said, prompting investigators to consider that she may have known about the shootings in advance. All three residents were found dead Friday morning in their Westmont apartment after relatives became concerned that Julia, a first-grader, had missed three days of school.Julia was found dead in her bed, authorities said. Brennan and Chapman -- who according to a relative still lived together despite having been divorced earlier -- were discovered on a living room couch, authorities said.A handgun was found on the couch, officials said.Brennan and Chapman had raised the little girl since she was an infant, neighbors said.But Julia’s mother, who is Brennan’s daughter, had recently moved to regain custody of her daughter or at least visitation with the little girl, a law enforcement source said.Police wouldn’t disclose specifics but confirmed the girl was at the center of a custody dispute.“There was a custody issue,” Westmont Police Chief Thomas Mulhearn said, though he added investigators were still probing the shootings. “It’s a tragedy for the family and for the community,” he said.

Coroner's Report Released on Murder-Suicide Case



Hinsdale investigator assists in case that leaves six-year-old and grandparents dead of gunshot wounds.

November 22, 2010
UPDATE: Hinsdale Investigator Assists in Murder-Suicide Case That Leaves Six-Year-Old and Grandparents Dead
Julia A. Moore, 6, her grandmother Linda E. Brennan, 51, and Mark J. Chapman, 50, who was identified as the child's step-grandfather, were found dead of gunshot wounds at the scene of a double murder-suicide Friday morning.
The DuPage County Coroner's office said Julia and her grandmother were shot multiple times. Chapman, who was Brennan's ex-husband, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after leaving a hand-written note that stated he alone was responsible for the shootings. Police said an on-going custody dispute may have been a contributing factor in the shootings.
Chapman and Brennan lived together in the apartment at 515 W. 61st St., in Westmont, where they were found, said Westmont Police Chief Thomas R. Mulhearn.
Earlier:

A Hinsdale police investigator was among other members of the Felony Investigative Assistance Team called to the scene of an apparent murder-suicide in Westmont Friday morning.
A six-year-old girl, who was a student at El Sierra School in Downers Grove, was among three people shot to death Nov. 19 in Apartment C at 515 W. 61st St., in Westmont.
Julia A. Moore, her grandmother Linda E. Brennan, 51, and Mark J. Chapman, 50, who was identified in some reports as the child's step-grandfather, were found shot to death in the apartment.
The Westmont Police Dept. received a call at 10:04 a.m. Friday, requesting a well-being check on family members. Police said a weapon was recovered at the scene, and there were no signs of forced entry or of a struggle within the apartment.
"I want to assure the residents of our community our investigation indicates this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to our citizens," Police Chief Thomas R. Mulhearn said. "This was not a random act and was directed toward only the victims at this time."
Police are continuing to classify the incident as a "death investigation" until the DuPage County coroner rules on the case later today.
"On behalf of the Village of Westmont I want to extend our condolences to the family of Julia Moore and everyone affected by this tragedy," said Mulhearn.