On a tragic day in October 2022, Nancy Jean Bergum, a 64-year-old female, became a victim in a horrific series of events that unfolded across Erie County, New York. Her life was cut short by her own son, Erik Bergum, in a devastating triple murder-suicide that also claimed the lives of her husband and daughter-in-law.
The violent spree began on October 6, 2022, when 43-year-old Erik Bergum first went to his own home in Clarence and fatally shot his wife, 37-year-old Mary Beth Bergum.
Following this, he drove to his mother's residence where he shot and killed Nancy. The final act of his rampage took place at the Ten-X Shooting Club in Newstead. There, he located his father, 66-year-old Mark Bergum, and shot him before turning the gun on himself.
Authorities were first alerted to the tragedy when they were called to investigate a suspected murder-suicide at the shooting range. The investigation quickly expanded as the bodies of Mary Beth and Nancy were discovered at their respective homes. In Erik Bergum's vehicle, investigators found a note that laid out a timeline for the killings, indicating that the acts were premeditated. However, the note did not provide a clear motive for the shocking and violent actions he took against his family. The community was left in shock by the sudden and brutal nature of the deaths, leaving behind four orphaned children of Erik and Mary Beth Bergum. The investigation by the Erie County Sheriff's Office concluded that Erik Bergum was the sole perpetrator of the killings.
