SAN DIEGO, CA – A woman who fell to her death at Petco Park while holding her toddler son last September died was a murder-suicide, according to a statement Wednesday from the San Diego Police Department.
Fall that killed mother, toddler at San Diego Padres game ruled murder-suicide: police | CBS 17 https://t.co/aE2ID7Ep5Y
— CBS 17 (@WNCN) January 20, 2022
Raquel Wilkins, 40, and her 2-year-old son, Denzel Browning-Wilkins, fell to their deaths in September last year from the third level of Petco Park before a San Diego Padres game.
San Diego Police Department Lt. Andra Brown issued a press release stating:
“Raquel Wilkins’ death has been classified a suicide and Denzel Browning-Wilkins’ death has been classified a homicide.
“The detectives conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation that included dozens of interviews, reviewing of available video footage, and collecting background information to determine what led to the deaths.”
The deaths of a mother and toddler who died last year outside Petco Park have been ruled as a murder-suicide, according to San Diego authorities.https://t.co/mdxsoCaRIp
— NBC 7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) January 21, 2022
Investigators said they conducted dozens of interviews and reviewed background information and available video footage of the Sept. 25 incident. It happened just before a Padres game against the Atlanta Braves.
Wilkins and her son were pronounced dead at 4:11 p.m., about 20 minutes after police were alerted. The pair had fallen from a dining and concessions area on the third-floor concourse, the equivalent of six stories high, to a sidewalk below on 200 Tony Gwynn Way, police said.
The deaths of a mother and her toddler son in a fall from a third-floor concourse at Petco Park prior to a San Diego Padres game in the autumn have been ruled a murder-suicide, authorities said Wednesday. https://t.co/rAAFGawgeq pic.twitter.com/pahi3z72G3
— KPBS News (@KPBSnews) January 20, 2022
The ruling into their deaths was made in consultation with the San Diego County Medical Examiner.
Lt. Brown thanked those that came forward with information that helped investigators find out the truth of what happened:
“SDPD understands the public’s concern and interest in this tragedy that happened publicly in a venue where the community gathers.
“We would like to thank all those who came forward with information.”
The San Diego Padres baseball organization released a statement following the police announcement:
“In light of today’s statement from the San Diego Police Department, we want to reiterate our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of those involved in this tragedy.”
ESPN reported that Wilkins’ parents and sisters have filed a suit against the venue and the city and believe law enforcement has not shared information with them about the investigation.
San Diego Mom And Son's Fatal Fall At September Padres Game Ruled Murder-Suicide https://t.co/uNWWSxbVQm via @YahooNews I want to see the videos. Sounds like she could have stupidly fallen over the railing. Even a fuzzy video would show if she was pushed.
— Louis D'Marsh (@LouisDMarsh1) January 22, 2022
Dan Gilleon, an attorney who represents the family, expressed disappointment over the lack of information shared with the family by the San Diego police about the investigation and how they came to their conclusions.
At least one witness reported that Wilkins was standing on a bench laughing while holding the child when she fell over the railing. San Diego police originally called the death “suspicious.”
The child’s father was also at the stadium at the time of the incident but has refused interviews.
Governor asks why judge allowed “monstrous drug dealer” to have custody of now missing daughter
January 19, 2022
MANCHESTER, NH – The Republican Governor of New Hampshire has sent a letter to a judge in Massachusetts questioning the justification for granting custody of a now missing girl to her “monstrous” drug-dealing father.
The seven-year-old has not been seen since 2019.
Where is Harmony Montgomery?
Somebody knows.
Bet you Adam does.
He needs to talk and we are not allowed to water board?! 🙄 #Missing pic.twitter.com/ocpwaRDenB— Rose (@901Lulu) January 19, 2022
Harmony Montgomery was reported missing from Manchester, New Hampshire in December of 2021.
However, no one has allegedly seen the young girl since her father, Adam Montgomery allegedly turned her over to her biological mother in 2019.
Investigators were able to make contact with the biological mother and learned the child was not with her.
Harmony’s case caught the attention of Republican New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu who began asking questions and directed the Division of Children Youth and Families to conduct a review of her case.
The Governor said that as that review is continuing, additional questions are being raised. He said:
“As that review proceeds new questions are emerging regarding decisions within your court system that have had a profoundly negative impact on Harmony’s well-being.”
Governor Sununu then went on to question why someone like Adam would be granted full custody of Harmony, given his past. The Governor wrote:
“Harmony’s father Adam Montgomery is a monstrous drug dealer with previous convictions including shooting someone in the head and a separate armed attack on two women in Massachusetts.
“This family was troubled, transient, and originally engaged with the Massachusetts child protection system.
Only as an unfortunate result of harmony’s disappearance has New Hampshire come to learn the full extent of the family’s background and the type of upbringing Harmony faced prior to arriving in New Hampshire.”
https://twitter.com/wandas_weird/status/1483842665414377479
According to Governor Sununu, his state became involved after the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families asked them to conduct a home study of Adam and his wife, Kayla Montgomery.
However, as they awaited information on the case to conduct the study, the courts in Massachusetts abruptly gave full custody to Adam. Governor Sununu wrote:
“It is unclear why the Massachusetts courts moved so quickly with this permanent placement prior to the completion of the home study. Why would the Massachusetts court choose to place custody of Harmony with this horrible individual? What caused such a fateful decision?”
The Governor then voiced his concerns over the decision to place Harmony with her father, given his criminal history. He wrote:
“What makes this case exceptionally unusual is that not only did a Massachusetts judge move to place this child with such a monster as Adam Montgomery, but it did so WITHOUT…a home study to be completed. This home study likely would have proved that Adam Montgomery was unfit.”
Reward for information leading to Harmony Montgomery’s whereabouts now at $112,535 pic.twitter.com/YQndH9Zz6f
— Sir Dr. Nerdy L. Michael, esq. (@Nerdy_Addict) January 13, 2022
Now Governor Sununu wants answers:
“You owe it to Harmony Montgomery, her loved ones, and the public to fully cooperate in handing over the imperative information on this case that could help provide answers and assist with our search. WE hope you can agree time is of the essence and give this matter the urgency that is required.”
News of Governor Sununu’s letter made it to Republican Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, who responded that he felt the pain and urgency in the request. He said:
“I felt his pain in that letter. I did. I feel a tremendous amount of pain associated with what happened to Harmony.”
In response to the letter, Governor Baker had the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate open an investigation into the custody situation. He said:
“We’re fully cooperating with the Office of the Child Advocate and we’re as anxious to hear what her findings are as anybody else.”
In 2018, Harmony’s biological mother, Crystal Sorey, lost custody of her over substance abuse issues while living in the state of Massachusetts. At that time, Harmony was placed in foster care before the courts ruled that Adam could take custody of her.
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