A mother from a prominent Atlanta family is suspected of shooting dead her two adult children then turning the gun on herself, days after returning from a vacation in Italy with her daughter.
Police conducting a welfare check at the Edwards family home in Vinings, Georgia discovered the dead bodies of Marsha Edwards, 58, along with her daughter Erin Edwards, 20, and son Chris Edwards, 24, on Wednesday evening.
Cops arrived to the home at 3000 block of Nobility Way around 6pm and found Erin and Chris dead suffering gunshot wounds. Their mother Marsha died of ‘an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound’.
Cobb County police believe Marsha Edwards shot her children before killing herself, but the motive behind the tragic killings remains a mystery. It’s not clear exaclty when the shootings happened.
Marsha was divorced from her children’s father Dr. Christopher Edwards, a prominent orthopedic surgeon in the Atlanta-area who leads the Atlanta Housing Authority board also sits on the board of trustee for the Morehouse School of Medicine, according to NBC. He was notified of their deaths Wednesday.
Marsha Edwards, 58, (center) and her two children Erin Edwards, 20, (right) and Chris Edwards, 24, (left) were found dead in their Atlanta home Wednesday evening. Cobb County police suspect Marsha shot dead her children then killed herself
Authorities say Erin and Chris died suffering gunshot wounds and Marsha died of ‘an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound’. Marsha pictured left with son Chris and right with daughter Erin
Cops discovered the bodies around 6pm on Wednesday after they were called to the family’s upscale townhome in Vinings, Georgia to conduct a welfare check
Cobb County police believe Marsha Edwards shot her children before killing herself, but the motive behind the tragic killings remains a mystery
Just two days before the brutal killings on Monday August 19, Marsha Edwards’ posted on social media enjoying a vacation with her daughter Erin in Italy, sharing snaps from Vatican City, Rome and Venice.
On Wednesday, the same day as the killings, Marsha posted to Instagram in an eerie post: ‘I’ve had the best summer, first with Chis in Miami, and Erin in Italy. I could not ask for better children.’
Following the shocking deaths, Dr. Christopher released a statement via the family spokesperson Jeff Dickerson.
‘Dr. Edwards, his extended family and friends are in a state of grief and shock, and privacy of the family is paramount as arrangements are being made.’
Police have not released any further information about the apparent double murder-suicide and the investigation is ongoing.
Marsha was divorced from her children’s father Dr. Christopher Edwards, a prominent orthopedic surgeon in the Atlanta-area
The Edwards lived in a wealthy gated townhouse community called Vinings Parc East, located 12miles outside downtown Atlanta, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Edwards family was well known in the community and mingled in the medical and media circles in the city.
The killings came a shock to neighbors who described the Edwards as a ‘happy family’.
‘From our knowledge, no malice between the children or nothing like that. They just seemed like a normal happy family,’ one neighbor said to WTVM.
Two days before they were found dead: On Monday August 19 Marsha posted pictured smiling at Vatican City with her daughter Erin during their Italy vacation
Day bodies were found: On Wednesday Marsha Edwards shared this post saying, ‘I could not ask for better children’
Erin Edwards was a junior student at Boston University studying journalism. Chris Edwards was digital content manager for the City of Atlanta and worked in the Mayor’s Office of Entertainment. The siblings pictured together above
Marsha Edwards was a physician who owned medical supply company MME Enterprises, which she founded in July 2015, according to the company website.
Earlier this year her daughter Erin boasted about her mother’s achievements after Marsha was named one of Atlanta’s 100 most powerful and influential women of 2019 by the Women Works Media Group in April
Erin Edwards was a junior student at Boston University studying journalism. She just wrapped up a summer internship with NBC New York.
The station’s vice president, Benjamin Berkowitz, expressed condolences to Erin Edwards’ family and friends in a statement.
‘Erin Edwards was a gifted storyteller with a passion for her work,’ Berkowitz said. ‘Her enthusiasm was infectious and her smile lit up a room. She was an incredibly decent, kind person who earned our admiration. Her talent was truly God-given.’
Chris Edwards was digital content manager for the City of Atlanta and worked in the Mayor’s Office of Entertainment, according to WXIA.
The Edwards lived in a wealthy gated townhouse community called Vinings Parc East, located 12miles outside downtown Atlanta
The Edwards family was well known in the Atlanta community and mingled in the medical and media circles in the city
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a close family friend to the Edwards, shared this statement following news of their deaths
The family was close friends of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms who shared a statement Thursday night mourning their deaths.
‘Derek and I joining the greater Atlanta community in mourning the loss of three members of the beloved Edwards family. Chris and Erin were beautiful, vibrant, and brilliant young adults, whom we had the pleasure of knowing their entire live. They filled the lives of all who met them with joy, compassion and kindness,’ she said.
The family were members of the National Association of Black Journalists and the three recently attended an NABJ event in Miami.
The organization shared a statement following their deaths.
‘The #NABJ family has lost three of our own. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Marsha Edwards, Christopher Edwards II and Erin Edwards. This tragedy has claimed the lives of three members, but touches countless more.’