On a tragic day in Culloden, West Virginia, five-year-old Olivia Reese Cart, a White female, lost her life in a shocking act of violence that also claimed her mother. On October 6, 2017, authorities were called to a home on Benedict Road where they found a devastating scene. Olivia had been fatally shot.
The investigation by the Cabell County Sheriff's Office revealed a grim sequence of events. Olivia's mother, 39-year-old Leah Cart, was identified as the perpetrator in a murder-suicide.
Before taking her own life, Leah Cart also shot and killed her daughter, Olivia. In addition to the two fatalities, another child, Olivia's seven-year-old brother Jonah, was also shot. He was rushed to a local hospital for surgery to treat his injuries.
In the wake of the tragedy, the community was left to mourn the loss of a young life cut short. Olivia was a student at Culloden Elementary School who was remembered for her love of animals, swimming, and her family. The incident was a somber reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence. Since Leah Cart died by suicide, there were no arrests made in connection with Olivia's death. The case was closed with the determination that it was a murder-suicide, leaving a family and a community to grapple with the profound loss.
