Florida Mother Killed Her Mother and Two Young Daughters Before Taking Her Own Life, Police Say

PLANT CITY, Fla. — A three-month investigation into a devastating family tragedy in Plant City has concluded with police identifying 27-year-old Hailey Dempsey as the person responsible for killing her mother and two of her three young daughters before taking her own life.

The killings occurred on May 3, but Plant City police revealed additional details Thursday as investigators completed what Chief Richard Mills described as an extremely complex case.

Dempsey first killed her 55-year-old mother, Valerie DeBoe, at the family’s home, authorities said. She then left the residence with her three daughters, ages 4, 2 and 4 months.

Police said Dempsey later fatally attacked her 4-year-old and 4-month-old daughters. She also attempted to harm her 2-year-old daughter but missed. The youngest surviving child was subsequently found physically unharmed and is now staying with relatives.

Dempsey later died by suicide, according to police.

Police Had Been Called to the Home Three Times

Investigators revealed that officers had responded to the family’s home three times during the two days before the killings.

The first call, on May 1, involved a verbal dispute between Dempsey and her husband, Jay Dempsey. Police Chief Richard Mills said the argument concerned explicit material Dempsey had found on her husband’s cellphone.

Authorities said officers found no evidence of violence or criminal activity during that visit.

Later that day, Dempsey contacted police because she believed a tracking device had been placed on her vehicle. Officers searched but did not find one.

Dempsey subsequently left the home with her children and her mother, who had been visiting from Clearwater. They spent the night at a hotel.

The following day, police accompanied Dempsey back to the family residence so she could collect clothing while her husband was away.

Husband Cleared in Investigation

Jay Dempsey was initially detained following the killings while investigators examined his possible involvement.

After an extensive investigation, however, police ruled him out as a suspect. He was never arrested or charged in connection with the deaths.

Investigators have not publicly identified another person as being responsible.

Mills said detectives found indications that mental illness may have played a role, although he declined to speculate about a specific motive for the killings.

Surviving Daughter Is With Family

The family’s surviving child, a 2-year-old girl, was physically unharmed during the incident.

Mills said she is now in good health and staying with relatives.

The tragedy has nevertheless left lasting emotional consequences for the surviving family members and the officers who responded to the scene.

Mills, a law-enforcement veteran of 34 years, became emotional while discussing the case during Thursday’s news conference, calling it the most devastating crime scene he had encountered during his career.

Investigation Now Closed

Police said the three-month investigation required extensive evidence collection and careful examination of multiple locations.

Authorities ultimately concluded that Dempsey was responsible for the deaths of her mother and two daughters before her own death.

The case is now considered resolved from a criminal-investigation standpoint, although the surviving family members are left to deal with the consequences of a tragedy that claimed three generations of one family.

The incident also highlights the importance of recognizing warning signs surrounding severe mental-health crises and seeking immediate professional help when someone may pose a danger to themselves or others.