Kaden Reese Hiatt, a bright-eyed, five-month-old White girl known affectionately to her family as "Chunky Monkey," was just beginning her life in Jacksonville, Florida. Born in the spring of 2015 with her twin sister, Hayden Rose, Kaden was a source of immense joy to her 22-year-old mother, Megan Hiatt, and her entire family. The girls had distinct personalities; while Hayden was called "Little Bit," Kaden’s nickname celebrated her happy, healthy size. Their lives, full of promise, were extinguished in an act of unimaginable domestic violence on the afternoon of Friday, November 13, 2015.
That day, Megan Hiatt had decided to leave the girls' father, 28-year-old Gawain Rushane Wilson, a U.S. Navy sailor. Believing he was on duty, she asked her father, 49-year-old Travis James Hiatt, and a friend to help her move out of the home they shared on Shirley Oaks Drive in Jacksonville’s Oceanway neighborhood.
Wilson, however, became aware of her plan, left his post without permission, and returned home enraged. He confronted the family and opened fire. A friend who was outside heard Megan scream, "Dad, don't come in here!" before shots rang out and she saw Travis fall. The friend fled to a neighbor's house to call 911.
Inside the home, Wilson shot and killed Travis, a devoted father and grandfather who died trying to protect his family. He then shot Megan multiple times before turning his cruelty on their infant daughters. In a chilling act, he forced the grievously wounded Megan to hold both Kaden and Hayden as he shot and killed them in her arms. He then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office received the first 911 call just before 4 p.m. and arrived to a horrific scene.
Deputies found Kaden, her sister Hayden, their grandfather Travis, and their father Gawain Wilson all deceased. Miraculously, Megan Hiatt survived. Despite being shot multiple times, she managed to crawl through the scene, past the bodies of her loved ones, to find a phone and call 911 herself. "My ex-boyfriend shot me, my twins, my dad and my best friend," she pleaded with the operator, believing her friend had also been shot. She was rushed to UF Health Jacksonville with life-threatening injuries and underwent multiple life-saving surgeries.
The investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office confirmed the incident was a triple murder-suicide stemming from a domestic dispute. The case was closed as the sole perpetrator was deceased. Records later revealed that Wilson had a history of domestic violence, including a 2013 arrest for domestic battery and a restraining order filed against him by another woman in 2014. Megan's mother, Melissa Bateh, described Wilson as controlling and emotionally abusive, recalling how he would take Megan's phone, criticize her weight just days after she gave birth, and restrict her use of their car.
In the wake of the tragedy, the community mourned the loss of three generations. A GoFundMe page was established to help Megan with overwhelming medical and funeral expenses. A joint funeral service was held for Travis, Kaden, and Hayden at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in St. Augustine. A friend remembered Travis, known as "Jimmy," as a caring father who was incredibly proud of his twin granddaughters.
Despite her devastating physical and emotional trauma, Megan Hiatt has become a powerful advocate for domestic violence awareness. "I knew day one I needed to make sure this didn't happen to anyone else," she stated. She has shared her harrowing story at public events, hoping to help others recognize the warning signs of abuse and find the strength to leave. As of January 2025, she had undergone more than 40 surgeries, married, and was pursuing a degree in social work to continue her advocacy work. Her survival and dedication to helping others stand as a living memorial to the children and father she so tragically lost.
