In a tragic turn of events on September 26, 2024, 79-year-old Helen Plaisance of Picayune, Mississippi, died in what authorities have described as a murder-suicide. The incident unfolded in a car near the emergency room entrance of Highland Community Hospital.
That afternoon, at approximately 2:53 p.m., police received a call from 61-year-old Helena Malone, Plaisance's daughter. In the call, Malone stated that she had shot her mother and required assistance.
By the time officers arrived at the hospital, Malone had turned the gun on herself.
Emergency room personnel rushed both women into the hospital for medical attention, but sadly, both Helen Plaisance and Helena Malone succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead. Investigators confirmed that all the shots were fired inside the vehicle and later recovered the weapon used in the shooting.
Further investigation into the motive behind the tragic event revealed a possible contributing factor. According to the Pearl River County Coroner, Helena Malone had been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. It was reported that she had discontinued treatment for the tumor in June of that year, and family members had noticed significant changes in her behavior afterward. The coroner suggested that the untreated tumor likely influenced her actions on that fatal day. No other individuals were harmed during the incident.
