On January 2, 2026, in Waverly, Tennessee (Humphreys County), authorities discovered four deceased individuals from gunshot wounds during a welfare check: 32-year-old Heather Thompson, her sons Arius Thompson (4) and Isaiah Johnson (13), and her grandmother Evelyn Johnson (88). Sheriff Chris Davis indicated Heather killed the three family members before dying by suicide in this apparent murder-suicide. The longtime residents were found in a home with no extended decomposition, and no prior domestic violence or mental health calls were noted.
Investigation Details
The Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) led the response, confirming no ongoing threats via Facebook and requesting area avoidance due to congestion. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting, with autopsy results pending. Heather was estranged from the boys’ father, Biah Thompson, but investigators found no evident trigger. Sheriff Davis highlighted the small-town impact: “Here again, small town America. Here again, I know the families.”
Community and Family Response
Isaiah attended Humphreys County Schools, which provided counselors on January 5 and expressed condolences without further comment. GoFundMe campaigns raised over $11,000 for Biah Thompson to transport his sons’ bodies to New Mexico—he described his “shattered soul” online. A separate fund by Michelle Dahmous supports Heather and others’ burials, noting post-holiday financial strains.
This tragedy reflects rising U.S. murder-suicide rates (FBI data shows ~600 annually, often familial), with Tennessee’s rural areas facing mental health access gaps (per state reports). As someone tracking regional public safety, note Tennessee’s murder-suicide statutes treat them as homicides (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202), potentially influencing estate or custody probes. Any interest in comparative stats, legal implications, or similar Southeastern cases?
