Houston psychiatrist explains warning signs after Brazoria County mother accused of shooting four children
Investigators are still working to learn what led up to a horrific tragedy in Brazoria County where a mother is accused of shooting her four children, killing two of them.
Investigators are still working to learn what led up to a horrific tragedy in Brazoria County where a mother is accused of shooting her four children, killing two of them.
Court records show 31-year-old Oninda Romelus appeared paranoid and distracted when deputies questioned her after the Oct. 4 shooting. Investigators said she kept looking toward the door and told them she “couldn’t talk about it.” When pressed, she reportedly said, “Instead of them doing it to me, I’m going to do it to them,” and later added, “Kill them all.”
When asked again why she called 911, Romelus allegedly replied that she hadn’t called 911 she “called the devil,” according to the affidavit.
Two of the children, a 13-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl — died at the scene. An 8-year-old boy and 9-year-old girl were flown to a Houston-area hospital, where they remain in recovery.
Dr. Asim Shah, a psychiatrist at Baylor College of Medicine, says tragedies like this often stem from a severe and untreated mental-health crisis.
“Usually, this severe situation doesn’t happen overnight,” Shah said. “This takes a while to develop this severe… this bad.”
He says while depression and bipolar disorder can play a role, the most dangerous warning sign is psychosis, a complete break from reality.
“Nothing can be as sad as this,” Shah said. “But when, as a psychiatrist, I hear this, first thing which comes to my mind is psychosis, because no person in real frame of mind will hurt anybody, but especially their own child. So psychosis comes to mind… that a person would be delusional, paranoid, thinking that if I don’t hurt my kids, somebody else is going to hurt them,” he added.
- DETAILS: Mother charged after shooting left her 2 children dead, 2 others injured in Brazoria County
Neighbors told KPRC 2 they’re struggling to understand how a tragedy like this could happen.
“I don’t understand,” one woman said. “How do you do something like that with your children? Precious babies that you’ve brought into the world… There’s no rhyme or reason. I just don’t understand it,” one woman told KPRC2.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services confirmed to KPRC 2 that Child Protective Services is investigating and that Romelus has had prior contact with the agency.
A judge has not yet determined who will have temporary custody of the two surviving children once they’re released from the hospital.
Dr. Shah urges families who notice warning signs such as paranoia, hearing voices, or sudden changes in behavior to seek help immediately.
“If you don’t know where to start, just remember 988,” he said, referring to the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. “That’s the mental-health emergency line, the same way you’d call 911 for a medical emergency,” he said.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988, the Harris Center Crisis Line at (713) 970-7000, or reach out to Family Houston, NAMI Greater Houston, or The Bridge Over Troubled Waters for local support.
