In the quiet community of Elk Mills, Maryland, a devastating tragedy unfolded, claiming the life of 13-year-old Teresa Brigid Milligan. On September 9, 2022, the young female was found deceased in her family home from gunshot wounds. The horrific discovery was made after a 911 call was placed from the residence, in which a man reported that a woman and three children had been shot.
Responding deputies from the Cecil County Sheriff's Office arrived at the Hebron Court home to a grim
scene. Inside, they located the bodies of Teresa, her mother, Tara Devina Ricker Milligan, 37, and her younger siblings, Nora Milligan, 11, and Finn Milligan, 8. The body of Teresa's father, Marcus Edward Milligan, 39, was also found at the scene with a semi-automatic handgun nearby.
Investigators concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide. It is believed that Marcus Milligan shot and killed his wife and three children before turning the gun on himself. Authorities confirmed that Marcus Milligan was the individual who made the brief and chilling 911 call before taking his own life. The motive for this tragic event remains under investigation, though it was noted that the family had previously lost a young son to cancer, and the anniversary of his death was recent. There have been no arrests as the perpetrator was among the deceased. The children were all homeschooled, and neighbors described the family as seemingly normal, expressing shock and disbelief at the violent turn of events.
