A quiet Florida evening turned into horror when a domestic violence shooting in Hilliard left three women dead and a five-year-old girl as the sole survivor. Authorities say 34-year-old Christopher Bobby Rowell killed his wife, 32-year-old Marissa Rowell, her sister, 33-year-old Alisha Fogarty, and their mother, 71-year-old Sandra Fogarty, before turning the gun on himself. He was found with a faint pulse and later died in the hospital.
According to Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper, the little girl was in the back of the house when she heard a gunshot. She saw one victim on the floor before another woman pulled her into a bathroom. In shock but unharmed, she escaped to a neighbor’s home for help. Deputies later found the three women in different rooms of the house, along with Rowell and an SKS-style rifle.
Family members say Marissa had been preparing to leave Rowell and take the child with her. Cousin Steven Hallmark described a history of controlling and abusive behavior, including threats, drinking, and late-night yelling. “He took the lives of three beautiful women,” Steven said. “She was just so happy to be a mom.” The child is now in the custody of Rowell’s mother, and the family has launched a GoFundMe to cover cremation costs, legal fees, and long-term care for the girl.
Neighbors say the tragedy has shaken the entire community. Steven urged others in abusive situations to seek help before it’s too late. As investigators work to understand the final moments of that night, the town is left grieving three lives lost and rallying around a child whose life was forever changed in an instant—a stark reminder of the devastating toll of domestic violence.