In the quiet suburb of Kensington, Maryland, a deeply troubling story unfolded, culminating in the tragic death of 13-year-old Benjamin Barnhard in August of 2011. A male with fair skin and brown, curly hair, Benjamin was found deceased in his bedroom from at least one gunshot wound. The discovery was made after his mother's concerned co-workers contacted the police, as she had not been seen for several days.
Upon entering the home on Simms Court, authorities found not only Benjamin's
body but also that of his 54-year-old mother, Margaret Ferne Jensvold, in her own bedroom. The ensuing investigation by the Montgomery County Police led the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to rule the incident a murder-suicide. It was determined that Jensvold, a psychiatrist, fatally shot her son before taking her own life. A note found at the scene indicated her state of mind, alluding to frustrations with the school system and overwhelming debt.
Benjamin, who struggled with an autism spectrum disorder and obesity, had recently made significant progress at a boarding school for overweight minors, losing a substantial amount of weight. His father, James Barnhard, expressed immense pride in his son's hard work and determination. He described Benjamin as a 'wonderful child in every respect'. Friends and family were stunned by the actions of Jensvold, who was known to be deeply dedicated to her son's well-being, albeit increasingly strained by financial pressures and disputes with the local school system over his special needs education. In the end, the case was closed with the identification of Margaret Jensvold as the sole perpetrator, her death leaving behind a community to grapple with the sorrowful loss of a young life.
