Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
A Texas mum made her three-year-old son say 'goodbye to daddy' on camera before shooting him dead in a devastating murder-suicide.
Earlier this year, the bodies of San Antonio resident Savannah Kriger, 32, and her son Kaiden, three, were recovered from a park.
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Last Thursday (2 May), the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Savannah’s death as a suicide, while her son’s was ruled a homicide.
The cause of death for both the mother and child was ruled as a gunshot to the head, as per People.
The incident, which took place a few months back (18 March) took place amid a custody battle between Savannah and Kaiden’s father.
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Her chilling last words have since been revealed, with Savannah sending a final text message to her ex that read 'Say goodbye to your son'.
"At this point, Savannah then records a 21-second video where she and Kaiden appear to be already seated at the drainage ditch," Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar explained.
"Savannah instructs Kaiden to say 'bye to daddy' which Kaiden does.
"Savannah also apologises to Kaiden for his daddy not being there then kisses Kaiden."
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The law enforcement officer continued to say that police have since recovered the video and that it is of a 'non-graphic nature'.
Salazar added: "However, knowing what we know now about the moments thereafter, it’s pretty obvious what’s about to happen in the video."
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Piecing together details of the incident, the Sheriff took to Facebook and claimed Savannah had initially left work and travelled to her ex-husband’s residence in Verde Bosque.
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Speaking at a live-streamed press conference, Salazar said: "During this time, it is believed Savannah entered the residence and damaged various items of personal clothing and furniture items.”
After leaving the property, it’s thought that the woman returned to her own house where she fired two gunshots into wedding portraits.
Salazar claimed she left the property and picked up her son from daycare.
She then attempted to FaceTime Kaiden’s father, who was working at a car dealership.
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The Sheriff continued: "During the two-minute and 13-second phone conversation, Savannah stated: 'You don’t have anything to go home to now. You really don't'.
"You don’t have anything at the Dovers house either and you won’t have anything at all at the end of today."
The officer then stated that Savannah and her child drove to Tom Slick Park where she attempted to FaceTime her former spouse again.
It was during this subsequent FaceTime attempt that Savannah instructed Kaiden to say 'bye to daddy'.
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After recording her son’s last words, it’s said that Savannah used her phone to search 'children’s content' such as cartoons.
Hours after the phone calls and messages, police launched a search for the mother and son.
However, it was 19 hours later that police found their bodies and recovered a gun from the scene.
Salazar said it appeared as if the pair had left their car and walked a 'considerable way' from the park to the ditch, where their remains were located.
If you have been affected by this story or are struggling in any way call Samaritans for free on 116 123, visit samaritans.org - or write down your thoughts in an email to [email protected].
Topics: Crime, Facebook, News, Mental Health, US News
Rhiannon Ingle