Rachel Hannah Stolpa Madden, a 33-year-old woman of Canadian ethnicity, tragically lost her life on September 14, 2022, in Peebles, Ohio. Rachel was employed at the Southern Ohio Lumber Company, where she worked alongside her husband, Jason Madden. The couple was in the process of ending their 13-year marriage when Jason Madden shot Rachel at their workplace. After committing the murder, Jason Madden fled the scene but later took his own life at the intersection of State Routes 32 and 41.
Rachel had taken steps to protect herself from Jason Madden by filing for a domestic violence protection order on August 16, 2022. The order was granted and went into effect on August 23, 2022. Rachel's family members revealed that she had experienced several recent conflicts with Jason, and he had shown signs of mental instability. Despite the protection order, Jason Madden continued to violate it, leading Rachel to seek an amicable divorce where both she and Jason could co-parent their 12-year-old son, Eric.
The tragic incident left Rachel's family and friends in mourning. Rachel was remembered as a loving mother and a caring individual who always went out of her way to help others. Her twin sister, Whitney Bradshaw, expressed the family's grief and the surreal nature of the loss. The community rallied around Rachel's family, setting up GoFundMe accounts to help cover funeral expenses and support Eric.
In the aftermath of the murder-suicide, the Adams County Sheriff's Department conducted an investigation to understand the circumstances leading up to the incident. While no arrests were made, as Jason Madden took his own life, the investigation provided insights into the couple's troubled relationship and the red flags that were present. Rachel's family continues to seek comfort and healing, hoping for justice and peace in the wake of this devastating event.
