Horror in Hilliard: Mother, Daughter, and Sister Gunned Down in Murder-Suicide
The peaceful town of Hilliard, Florida was shattered on July 24 by an unimaginable act of domestic violence that claimed the lives of three beloved family members in a horrifying murder-suicide. Victims Marissa Leara Rowell (32), her mother Sandra Gayle Fogarty (71), and her sister Alisha Lael Fogarty (33) were all found brutally murdered inside their home on West 12th Avenue. The alleged shooter, identified as Christopher Bobby Rowell (34), Marissa’s husband, took his own life shortly after the murders, leaving behind a devastated community and a traumatized young child.
Authorities from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office described the scene as deeply disturbing. The three women were found in different rooms, indicating a methodical and targeted rampage. A military-style SKS rifle was discovered beside the shooter, who had a faint pulse when first responders arrived but died at the hospital shortly thereafter.
🚨 Five-Year-Old Girl Survives the Massacre That Took Her Entire World
Amid the carnage, a flicker of hope survived—a 5-year-old girl, Marissa’s daughter, miraculously escaped the shooting with her life. According to authorities, she heard the initial gunshot and instinctively walked toward the sound. She saw one of the women collapsed on the floor before being rushed into a bathroom to hide by another family member. Tragically, that woman was then shot as well.
Though physically unharmed, the child was splattered with blood and fled the home in terror to seek help from a neighbor, prompting the 911 response. Now orphaned and without the maternal warmth of her mother, grandmother, and aunt, the little girl’s life has been forever changed.
A GoFundMe page has been created to cover cremation costs and to provide long-term emotional and financial support for the child’s care. The page speaks of the women’s deep love for each other and their shared devotion to the little girl, calling them “a trio bound by love, laughter, and unshakable loyalty.”
🌹 Remembering the Victims: Three Lives That Lit Up a Home Now Darkened by Grief
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Marissa was described as a devoted mother, always placing her daughter’s happiness and safety above her own. She was the “guiding light” of the family.
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Sandra, a loving grandmother, had “waited her whole life” to cherish her first granddaughter. Her nurturing heart and gentle soul were felt by all who knew her.
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Alisha, the spirited aunt, had an infectious energy and was “crazy about her niece,” treating her as if she were her own child.
Their sudden, violent deaths have left the Hilliard community reeling, with neighbors and loved ones grieving, confused, and searching for meaning in the wake of senseless brutality. The motive remains unclear, and investigators continue to piece together the events of that tragic night.