On a tragic day in Peoria, Arizona, 26-year-old Dawn Pauline Axsom and her mother, Linda Lee Braden, 56, were found dead in their home on Friday, October 16, 2009. Both women had been fatally shot. The discovery was made after Dawn failed to show up for work, prompting concerned colleagues to check on her. Upon arriving at the residence, a coworker heard Dawn's young child crying inside but received no answer at the door, leading them to contact the police.
When officers entered the
home, they found a grim scene. Linda Braden's body was discovered in the downstairs kitchen, while Dawn's was located in an upstairs bathroom. The perpetrator was identified as Dawn's 28-year-old estranged boyfriend, Gabriel Schwartz, who was also found deceased in an adjacent bedroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident was determined to be a murder-suicide. Dawn and Gabriel's nearly two-year-old son was found physically unharmed in his crib and was subsequently placed in the care of Child Protective Services.
In the time leading up to the tragic event, Dawn had expressed fear for her and her son's safety due to her tumultuous relationship with Schwartz. She had sought and obtained an order of protection against him in September 2009, citing threats. Despite her concerns and her desire to relocate to Maryland with her son for their safety, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge had denied her request. Instead, the judge ordered Dawn and Schwartz to attend parental counseling together. The couple had also been in a dispute over custody and child support for their son.
