Gresham Mother Shoots And Kills Her Children, Then Herself: Police

GRESHAM, OR — A Gresham mother shot and killed her two children before shooting and killing herself around 10 a.m. Tuesday in an apartment in the 700 block of Southeast 185th Avenue, according to Gresham police.

The bodies of Ashley Palmer, 31, and her two children, 6 and 8, were found in the apartment after callers to 911 reported hearing gunshots, police said.

Police said Wednesday that Palmer shot her children before shooting herself, based on an investigation and autopsies by the state medical examiner.

Palmer was separated from and involved in a divorce that centered on custody of the two children, both of whom attended Bridger School, said a law enforcement official who asked to not be identified to discuss an ongoing investigation.

The official also confirmed a report in The Oregonian that Palmer had sent her wife a text hours before she and the children were found dead. The text contained a link to a playlist on YouTube labeled, "Whoever you are," the source said, followed by, "Mother children murder suicide 2022"

The 40-plus song list had titles such as "I Can't Carry This Anymore," "You Broke Me First," "I hope ur miserable until ur dead," "Why do I Exist?" and "Alone."

The official said that police received at least two calls from family members asking them to check and make sure that everything was OK. At one point, police went to the apartment and didn't get a response. They left and didn't return until the morning, when the bodies of Palmer and her children were found, according to the official.

Gresham police listed several resources "if you or someone is experiencing a mental health crisis or is contemplating suicide."

• The Multnomah County Mental Health Call Center urged those struggling to seek help. Call 503-988-4888 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
• Call 800-273-8255 to reach free, confidential support 24 hours a day from Lines for Life, or visit www.LinesForLife.org for a full list of help services. En Español: 888-628- 9454. TTY: 800-799-4TTY (4889).
• Youthline, a service of Lines for Life, is a peer crisis and help line for those 21 and younger. Teens are available to help daily, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pacific Time (off-hour calls answered by adult call counselors). Call 877-968-8491, text “teen2teen” to 839863 or chat online at www.OregonYouthline.org.
• Crisis Text Line: Text 741741 with the message “Home” for support anytime, night or day.