Madison, Wisconsin. According to court documents obtained by NBC News, a 15-year-old girl who police say killed two people and injured numerous others at a private Christian school in Wisconsin had what seemed to be a turbulent home life filled with divorces, custody battles, and a series of court-mandated mediation sessions to settle disagreements over her care.
During the two marriages and divorces of Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow, their daughter Natalie would occasionally visit both of their homes every few days to attend therapy.
According to court records, they got married in 2011 and went through their first divorce in 2014.
According to the agreements, Natalie would reside mainly with her mother, although the two agreed to share custody of her.
According to their marriage certificate, which NBC was able to get, they got married again in 2017, but then filed for divorce again in 2020. According to court filings, Natalie would spend equal time with her parents after Mellissa and Jeff Rupnow once more agreed to split custody of her. Their divorce was finalized in 2021, according to a divorce certificate that NBC News was able to obtain.
During study hall at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, Natalie Rupnow, also known as Samantha, shot and killed a teacher and a student while injuring six others. She later died from what seemed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to authorities. The victims were named as 14-year-old Rubi P. Vergara and 42-year-old Erin M. West.
According to authorities, the four injured pupils have been released from the hospital, but two kids who suffered potentially fatal injuries during the shooting are still there.
Earlier this week, the FBI arrested 20-year-old Alexander Paffendorf in California and ordered him to temporarily turn up his firearms after he allegedly spoke with Natalie Rupnow. According to authorities, Paffendorf acknowledged talking with Rupnow about preparations to strike a government facility with explosives. Although the FBI discovered messages between the two, they did not reveal their purported schemes.
Commentary from Paffendorf and his family was not immediately available.
According to court documents, Natalie Rupnow’s family life appears to have been turbulent, which provides insight into what might have influenced her before Monday’s tragedy.
In 2022, Mellissa and Jeff Rupnow requested custody of Natalie through mediation. Due to a dispute over child custody and/or physical placement, Dane County Family Court Services informed the parents via Zoom that May that they were required to attend a mandatory parent education program. A month later, Mellissa Rupnow was supposed to attend the Parent Education Program on June 2nd and June 16, 2022, but she failed to show up, per court filings. Soon after, the couple was requested to come in person for a required mediation session.
According to court filings, they came to an agreement in July 2022 that gave them joint legal custody of Natalie, who would reside with her father most of the time. According to the records, the parents also decided to take Natalie’s therapist’s suggestions into account when deciding where to place Natalie on the weekends.
According to the court filings, Natalie’s mother consented to communicate with her therapist and engage in therapy to the degree that the therapist advised. In order to suit the mother’s schedule, Natalie’s father would try his best to set up therapy sessions.
According to the court records, the parents say they have a usually good co-parenting relationship and will keep in touch via phone calls and texts.
Several efforts for response from Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow were not answered. The two are fully working with detectives, who have not disclosed many details about the teen and are still looking for a motive, according to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes.
Finding a motive is our first concern. However, Barnes stated at a press conference that it now seems that a number of elements were involved in the motivation.
The head of Wisconsin’s Office of School Safety, Trish Kilpin, stated on Monday that targeted violence may be avoided.
When someone chooses to use violence, it’s usually to address a grievance or upset, and they go down a path that leads to that violence, Kilpin added. When they do so, they frequently research past instances of school shootings.
Speaking to NBC News, a neighbor of Jeff Rupnow said he was shocked to hear of the shooting and characterized Jeff as a good man.
The neighbor, who did not want his name to be used for fear of the case becoming public, added, “He really helped us out.” I’m aware that we’re still figuring things out.
It’s terrible for everyone, obviously, and especially for the families of the school and those children, the neighbor said, implying that he didn’t know Natalie.
Chloe Atkins and Daniella Silva reported from New York City, while Selina Guevara reported from Madison.
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