5 Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide

A father is suspected of shooting his two sons, and their mothers before taking his own life

DULUTH, Minn. – Around 2:00 pm Thursday, Duluth Police performed a welfare check at the 6000 block of Tacony Street, which would lead to the discovery of one of the deadliest criminal acts in recent history.

At a press conference, officials addressed the deaths of three adults and two children whose bodies were found at properties less than a mile away from each other in West Duluth Thursday afternoon.

Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa, speaking to reporters today, said that upon entering the home, officers located the bodies of 47-year-old Erin Abramson and her son 15-year-old Jacob Nephew, both deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.

“During an interview with the reporting party, they identified a person of interest as 46-year-old, Duluth resident, Anthony Nephew,” Chief Ceynowa said.

Officers established a perimeter, surveilling Nephew’s residence at the 4400 block of West 6th Street. After police realized Nephew also had his wife, 45-year-old Kathryn Nephew, and son, 7-year-old Oliver Nephew, they entered the home for a welfare check; with Chief Ceynowa saying, “We made entry with the drones.”

Chief Ceynowa said that officers found the bodies of Kathryn and Oliver with what appeared to be gunshot wounds and the body of Anthony with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
When taking questions, Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa acknowledged that there had been recent calls for service at the 6th Street residence and that a history of mental illness may play a role in this case.

This investigation remains ongoing, and we will update you as more information becomes available.