A grieving father came home to a harrowing scene, discovering his fiancée had allegedly killed their two young children before attempting to end her own life, as shared by a close friend.
Tim Harris, 38, stumbled upon this tragic scene upon entering their residence in Kenton, Tennessee, on June 13, reported by Hailey Wilson to WREG.
Inside, he found his one-year-old daughter, Landrie Harris, and 11-year-old McKenna Young, both lifeless, with apparent gunshot wounds.
Also at the scene was Tim’s fiancée, the children’s mother, Jessica Quarles, 32. She was suffering from what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds and was transported to a hospital where she remains in critical condition, authorities reported.
Jessica was formally charged on Monday at the Obion County Jail with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder.
Tim and Jessica shared Landrie together. McKenna wasn’t his biological daughter, but he treated her as his own, Wilson said.
‘They were close. Some people, you know, were born to be parents, and he was definitely one of those,’ she added.
McKenna was autistic, had epilepsy, and Fragile X syndrome, an intellectual and developmental disability, according to Jessica’s Facebook.
Tim Harris, 38, found his two daughters, one-year-old Landrie Harris, and McKenna Young, 11, dead inside their family home in Kenton, Tennessee, on June 13. His fiancée, Jessica Quarles, has since been arrested for alleged murder. (Picuted: Tim and Jessica)
Landrie Harris (left) and her older sister, McKenna Young (right), were found dead after suffering apparent gunshot wounds
Harris said Tim will forever have the gruesome image of his deceased daughters in his head and he will never understand why Jessica allegedly took their lives.
‘He didn’t expect it at all. You know, we’ve had conversations, and there wasn’t anything that led him to believe that she was capable of anything like that.
Jessica remains in jail without bond and is due in court on Monday for her arraignment hearing, records showed
‘You know, she was crazy about him, and he was her too. I never would have imagined this,’ she explained.
Wilson said she believes it is important for people not to jump to conclusions over what might have sparked the deadly attack.
‘Maybe this is just a reminder when things like this come out. You know, wait until you know the facts, or wait until, you know, something’s been released before making speculations of what can happen because this, you know, there are, this is someone’s life,’ she stated.
It’s unclear what led to the crime, but Tim took to Facebook after she was arrested, and bashed her for what she allegedly did to their children.
He shared her mugshot, and stated: ‘This is the face of pure evil. Please help me make her famous for what she done to my girls!!’
Tim, who shares an older son with his ex-wife, has been left to pick up the pieces after losing nearly all of his family members.
Tim and Jessica shared Landrie together. McKenna (pictured with Tim) wasn’t biologically his daughter, but he treated her as his own, his friend, Hailey Wilson, said
Wilson has launched a GoFundMe page to help support him during this time, as he has taken time off from work while he grieves his children.
‘The pain and uncertainty of moving forward has taken a tremendous toll on Tim, and as he prepares to bury his children and face a life without them, he needs support from his community more than ever,’ Wilson wrote.
She continued: ‘The loss of a child is hard enough, and being off work and facing medical expenses only makes it harder. Thank you for considering a gift to support Tim as he navigates the days ahead.’
As of Wednesday morning, more than $6,000 had been raised for the distraught father.
Wilson has launched a GoFundMe page to help support him during this time, as he has taken time off from work while he grieves his children
Jessica has also been charged with one count of aggravated child abuse, neglect, and endangerment to a vulnerable child, and one count of aggravated child abuse, neglect, and endangerment to a child under eight, according to court records reviewed by the Daily Mail.
She remains in jail without bond and is due in court on Monday for her arraignment hearing, records showed.
The Daily Mail contacted the Kenton Police Department for comment.