Investigators Rule Deaths Murder-Suicide Jefferson County Authorities Say Mother Killed Sons, Girl, Then Herself

About one month after four deaths at a Rigby home, Jefferson County authorities say test results show the mother killed her two sons and a teenage girl, then shot herself.

“We’re going to rule it as a triple homicide, suicide,” Sheriff Blair Olsen said.

Investigators waited for test results in the deaths of Mary Myers, 44; her sons, Anthony Rice, 20, and Keith Rice, 16; and Christine Danielson, 17, whom Keith Rice was dating. Their bodies were found in the basement of Myers’ home on Dec. 30.

The results showed gunpowder residue on Myers’ left hand, which was holding a .22-caliber pistol when her body was found, Olsen said. She died of a single shot to the left temple.

At her feet was a short suicide note. “There’s nothing in the note that explains why she did all of this,” the sheriff said.

Authorities suspected suicide from the beginning, but were unable to find a reason why Myers killed herself, Olsen said. She had not sought treatment for depression and her family knew of no history of psychiatric illness. She had filed for divorce from Tom Myers on Dec. 28.No signs of inner turmoil raised suspicions in Rigby that someone else may have been involved. Olsen spelled out the most likely scenario.

The Rice brothers and Danielson were downstairs watching videos before Keith Rice and his girlfriend left to go outside. Mary Myers may have thought Keith Rice was going to take Danielson home.

Anthony Rice was the first person killed, of a single shot to the brain.

“He was shot before he could react,” Olsen said. After the first shot, Mary Myers returned upstairs and authorities think she may have written the suicide note.

Meanwhile, Keith Rice and Danielson were in the garage. He gave her a Christmas present.

The couple returned inside the house and went downstairs. They were in a hallway when Myers apparently approached them from the rear.

Keith Rice was shot in the cheek and the bullet deflected into his neck. The wound would not have been fatal. He fell to the floor and was shot a second time in the forehead.

Danielson tried to run into the family room but a bullet grazed above her left eye and knocked her unconscious. She also could have survived, but Myers shot her again. She was found still clutching her gift and her unopened Christmas card.