On a tragic spring day in Plant City, Florida, the life of 27-year-old Hailey Deboe Dempsey was brutally cut short in a devastating act of violence that also claimed the lives of three generations of her family. On May 3, 2026, Hailey, her two young daughters, a 4-year-old and a 4-month-old infant, and her mother, 55-year-old Valerie Deboe, were all found deceased from gunshot wounds in what authorities are investigating as a quadruple homicide. The horrific events unfolded across two separate locations in the quiet Florida city, leaving a community in shock and mourning. Another of Hailey's children was found at the scene physically unharmed.
The hours leading up to the discovery of the victims were filled with terror. Investigators believe that after Valerie Deboe was shot and killed at a residence on North Burton Street, Hailey fled with her three children. She ran for nearly half a mile before she and two of her children were fatally shot in a lot near the intersection of Tever and Wheeler Streets. When authorities arrived, they found the two children deceased at the scene. Hailey was discovered still alive but succumbed to her injuries after being transported to a local hospital. The discovery of Valerie Deboe's body at the North Burton Street home later in the investigation connected the two tragic scenes.
In the immediate aftermath of the killings, Hailey’s husband, Jay Dempsey, was detained by police as a person of interest. However, he was later released, and authorities have not yet publicly named a suspect in the case. The investigation brought to light a domestic disturbance call made from the Dempsey residence just two days prior to the murders. According to reports, the verbal altercation was sparked by Hailey's discovery of her husband's infidelity. Neighbors also reported seeing Jay Dempsey behaving unusually the night before the homicides, including putting on a bulletproof vest and loading a large duffel bag into his car. Since his release, Jay Dempsey's whereabouts have been a subject of public speculation. As of late May 2026, no arrests have been made, and the Plant City Police Department's investigation into the quadruple homicide remains active and ongoing. The lack of a named suspect or any significant updates has left the community with a lingering sense of unease and a desperate desire for justice for Hailey and her family.
