Sister, aunt of murder-suicide victims: ‘My heart is in a million pieces’

CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio (WXIX) - Wanda Garrison is struggling to pick up the pieces after the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office announced her brother was shot and killed by his wife, who also turned the gun on the couple’s children, her own father and then herself.

“I loved them very much,” Wanda Garrison said Wednesday. “My heart is in a million pieces.”

The apparent murder-suicide Monday morning in Clermont County’s Ohio Township near New Richmond remains under investigation.

Clermont County Sheriff Steve Leahy identified the shooter Wednesday as 46-year-old Theresa Cain and the victims as 50-year-old Steven Cain, 13-year-old Ethan Cain, 20-year-old Samantha Cain and 74-year-old William Felton.

Garrison’s niece, Samantha Cain, was the only survivor and was found gravely wounded.

She was taken in critical condition to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where she remained Wednesday, according to the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff’s investigators said in a news release they hope her medical condition progresses to the point she “could provide vital information into this horrific incident which could assist detectives with answers as to motive....”

Uniformed deputies found the bodies when they went to the family’s home in the 1100 block of Riebel Ridge Road around 9:30 a.m. Monday to serve civil papers, the sheriff’s office said earlier this week.

As deputies approached, they heard multiple gunshots coming from inside the residence.

They repeatedly tried but could not contact anyone inside, so the sheriff’s special response team responded and went in.

They found all five gunshot victims and said four were already dead.

There was no forced entry into the home before the sheriff’s office arrived and investigators aren’t anticipating making any arrests or searching for suspects, Leahy told FOX19 NOW earlier this week.

Garrison recalled the grim moment she learned about the tragedy. She said a deputy sheriff came to her door.

“The only thing I was first told was that my brother was found deceased in his home... and that’s all that she said. “And then I kinda got panicked, and I asked about the kids... and that’s when we learned Ethan had passed away too, and that Samantha was in critical condition at the hospital.”

Garrison is still reeling and struggling to cope.

“Both my parents are deceased... And then, you know, it was me and him and my sister... So basically, I don’t have any other family,” she said.

She lives in Augusta, Georgia, where she and her younger brother grew up.

“We were very, very close together... very close,” she said. “We spent a lot of time together.”

She said her brother was a kind soul, a devoted father and an avid poet who put his talent into singing lead vocals for his band.

Garrison said she is working to bring the bodies of her brother and nephew back to Georgia.

She also is praying for her niece and said she hopes she survives.

“I want everybody to pray for Samantha,” Garrison said. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen with her. I don’t know if she’s going to make it... and if she does, what that’s gonna look like.”

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