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Published 13:11 17 Aug 2026 GMT
New details have emerged following a monthslong investigation into an alleged May 3 murder-suicide in Plant City, Florida.
Authorities wrapped up their inquiry into the actions of 27-year-old Hailey Dempsey, who allegedly fatally shot three family members before taking her own life, ABC News 4 reports.
Plant City Police Chief Richard Mills addressed the public during a press conference after investigators finalized their findings regarding the events that led up to the violent outbreak.
The incident left Dempsey, her mother, 55-year-old Valerie DeBoe, and two of Dempsey's young children dead. Investigators said that the deadly sequence of events originated from a domestic dispute between Dempsey and her husband, Jay Dempsey, regarding adult content found on his cell phone.
Authorities noted that officers had been called to the home multiple times prior to the fatal shootings.
Cops say on May 1, two days before the deadly shooting, Dempsey got into a "verbal confrontation" with her husband over adult material she discovered on his device. Plant City Police Chief Richard Mills clarified the nature of the argument during his press conference.
"It wasn't cheating or anything like that; evidently, it was just porn, and they were having an argument over that. I think that's what everything stemmed from."
While an officer spoke with the couple during that initial response, police observed "no indication whatsoever" that any criminal behavior or violence had occurred. Later that same day, Dempsey requested that officers inspect her vehicle for a potential tracking device, though nothing was found.
Dempsey then left the residence with her children and her mother, who was visiting from Clearwater, Florida, to stay at a local hotel. Police responded a third time the following day when Dempsey requested an escort to collect clothing from the home while her husband was away.
On the morning of May 3, Dempsey is said to have fatally shot her mother at their residence in the Tampa Bay area. She then fled the scene on foot with her three young daughters.
Shortly after leaving the home, Dempsey reportedly turned the gun on her children. She allegedly fatally shot her four-month-old and four-year-old daughters, and also shot at her two-year-old daughter but missed. Dempsey then reportedly turned the gun on herself and took her own life.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that the surviving two-year-old child was unharmed during the incident and was placed in the care of relatives, where she remains in "good health."
Following the shootings, Dempsey's husband was briefly detained while detectives worked to determine whether he had any direct involvement in the incidents. After being "thoroughly investigated" by law enforcement, he was completely ruled out as a suspect and released without any charges.
Chief Mills noted that the three-month investigation "required patience, diligence and precision," adding that there were "indications of some mental illness involved with the case." Refined findings from the scene impacted the veteran officers who responded to the call.
“I’ve been in law enforcement for 34 years, I was on that scene, and it was probably the worst scene that I’ve ever seen in my life,” Chief Mills stated. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking. The worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
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