Florida Mother Kills Herself After Murdering Daughter, Young Son Following Custody Battle Loss

A Florida mother lost a custody battle, so authorities say she killed her two children and then turned the gun on herself in an apparent murder-suicide.

According to authorities, Brandy Hutchins was ordered by a judge to hand over her 10-year-old son, later identified as Aiden Hutchins by the boy’s father, on Aug. 25.

However, Hutchins failed to comply with the order by the 6 p.m. deadline, so a search was launched for Aiden so his father could take him back to Maine, The Independent reported.

On Aug. 27, police found the bodies of Hutchins and her 10-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter inside a mobile home in Lake Wales, officials said.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference that Brandy “from every indication in our investigation now, has murdered her 10-year-old child and her 19-year-old child. Murdered them. And then subsequent to that, she shot herself."

Sheriff Judd added, “We’re devastated for this beautiful 10-year-old child, all because mom did not want to turn the child over to the rightful father pursuant to a court order.”

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According to authorities, there were no signs of possible violence as a result of this custody battle or any history of mental illness.

“There was no indication that there should be any violence, but it was violent," Judd said. "This was a domestic event, a court-ordered event, where she had to turn custody over to the ex-husband and she wasn’t going to do that, so she murdered the 10-year-old. The 19-year-old daughter was there and [she] murdered her as well.”

In a social media post from Aiden’s father, he said his son's mother took the boy on Aug. 25 and then killed him two days later. He wrote that the child “will forever be in my heart and did not deserve this. Rest in peace my sweet boy. I will see you again. I love you."