A Florida man who killed his daughter and six grandchildren before himself was under investigation by state child protective services two weeks before the murders, the Associated Press learned Monday.
Don Spirit committed suicide after he shot and killed his daughter and six grandchildren at his home in rural Bell, Florida, on Sept. 18.
On Sept. 1, a tipster called the Department of Children and Families reporting that adults were using drugs in front of children, according to the AP. Later on Sarah Spirit, Don Spirit's daughter, told investigators she had tested positive for drugs.
The daughter was arrested for violating her probation. Upon her release, she and her six children went to live with her father.
Don Spirit called 911 at around 4 p.m. the day of the murders saying he shot his family and was going to kill himself, according to NBC News.
"Just shot my daughter and shot all my grandkids. And I'll be sitting on my steps, and when you get here, I'm going to shoot myself," Don said according to the 911 call released Tuesday.
The 51-year-old followed through on his threat when Gilchrist County deputies arrived at his home. Sarah and her six children, ranging in ages 3 months to 11 years, were also found dead.
"As of this time, no clear definitive motive can be determined," the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday.
When the murders were first reported, police said they received multiple calls to the Bell home in the past, but did not specify the nature of the calls.
DCF officials said both father and daughter were the focus of several previous investigations for abuse and neglect, the AP reported. Spirit also served a three-year prison sentence for the accidental shooting death of his 8-year-old son, Kyle, during a hunting trip in 2001.
© 2025 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
