Matthew Dylan Eubanks, a four-year-old boy from San Marcos, California, tragically lost his life on October 26, 1997. His death was part of a horrific incident where his mother, Susan Eubanks, fatally shot him and his three brothers: Brandon Armstrong, 14; Austin Eubanks, 7; and Brigham Eubanks, 6. The children were all shot in the head in their home.
Susan Eubanks attempted to take her own life by shooting herself in the stomach but survived.
The events leading up to the tragedy involved significant turmoil in Susan Eubanks' personal life. She was in the process of divorcing her husband, Eric Eubanks, and had been involved in a tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend, Rene Dodson. On the day of the shootings, Susan and Rene had an argument at a bar, which escalated when they returned home. Rene left the house after the argument, and Susan subsequently left a voicemail for her estranged husband, ominously saying, "Say goodbye."
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they found Susan Eubanks with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and three of her sons already deceased. Matthew, the youngest, succumbed to his injuries the following day. Susan Eubanks was arrested and charged with the murders of her four children. In 1999, she was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. The California Supreme Court upheld her conviction and death sentence in 2016, despite appeals citing issues with jury selection, search procedures, and expert testimony.
In 2024, Susan Eubanks was re-sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This decision was influenced by California's moratorium on the death penalty and the desire to spare the victims' families from enduring another trial. The re-sentencing also resolved ongoing appellate petitions challenging her original conviction and sentence. Susan Eubanks remains incarcerated, ensuring she will never be released from prison.
