Clara Marie Dietering, a 5-year-old girl of Caucasian ethnicity, tragically passed away on April 27, 2020, in San Antonio, TX. She and her 3-year-old brother, Robert Alexander Dietering, were fatally shot by their mother, Karina Sornoza Deitering, in what was determined to be a triple murder-suicide. The incident occurred at their mother's apartment in the Sedona Ranch complex.
The tragic event unfolded amidst a contentious custody battle between Karina and the children's father, Jason
Deitering. Records indicate that Karina had moved to Texas under the pretense of a temporary job, which was later found to be nonexistent. The custody dispute escalated, with Karina obtaining a temporary restraining order against Jason, preventing him from seeing the children. The court ordered a forensic psychologist to investigate allegations of sexual abuse brought forward by Karina, further complicating the case.
On the day of the incident, Jason went to his estranged wife's apartment to check on the children and discovered the bodies of Clara, Robert, and their grandmother, Galina Taypina, who was also killed by Karina before she turned the gun on herself. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the identities of the victims and the cause of death.
The case drew significant attention from the legal community and highlighted the devastating impact of custody battles on families. The Deitering family, originally from Mississippi, faced immense grief and trauma following the loss of Clara and Robert.
No arrests or suspects were involved in this case, as it was determined to be a murder-suicide. The legal proceedings surrounding the custody battle and the allegations of abuse were ongoing at the time of the incident.
