Warrants: Mom Kills Her 2 Children, Shoots Husband

A mother of two is charged with killing her two children and leaving her husband hospitalized, according to the Pickens County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Rick Clark announced Tuesday afternoon that Suzanna Brown Simpson, 35, of 307 Cherokee Trail, Dacusville, is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of her daughter, Carly Ashelyn Simpson, 7, and son Sawyer Russell Simpson, 5.

Simpson, who also is accused of shooting her husband, Michael John Simpson,  is charged one count of attempted murder and one count of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Creed Hashe, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, said deputies first responded to a wreck on Cherokee Trail just after 6 a.m. Tuesday. Hashe said a pickup truck was off the side of the road, and after deputies checked the registration on the truck, they went to the listed address to try to locate the owner, and that's when the victims were found.

“We responded to an accident investigation and that led us to where we are today,” Clark said. “The wreck is what brought us to the scene.”

Simpson is still hospitalized as a result of injuries she suffered during the crash. According to the warrants, Simpson told EMS workers, "OK, OK, I shot my whole family.”

Carly and Sawyer Simpson both attended Dacusville Elementary School.

“Dacusville Elementary is deeply saddened by the loss of two of our children, Carly and Sawyer Simpson," DES principal, Dr. Michael Fleming said. "Both students were very special to the faculty, staff, and children of our school.  Carly had a beautiful smile that brightened everyone’s day. Sawyer’s excitement for learning was contagious. Our heartfelt condolences go to the family.”

Carly’s first grade teacher, Nancy Zeigler, described Carly as “sweetness defined.”

“She was a very smart little girl who loved to help her fellow classmates,” Zeigler said. “She was a leader in the classroom and loved by all.”

Sawyer’s 4K teacher, Jama Freeman, said that Sawyer was “enthusiastic, adventurous and creative. He loved to build with Lego’s. We will miss Sawyer’s smile in our classroom.”

Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said the case qualifies for the death penalty, because it involves multiple homicides and children under the age of 11.