The mother of a woman whose boyfriend shot and killed their baby twins has spoken about the need to protect women and their families from domestic violence.
Megan Hiatt, 22, was forced by her deranged boyfriend to hold each of her children while he shot them, and her, and her father, who also died in the carnage.
Megan is recovering in a Florida hospital, having lost part of her breast.
Megan’s mother spoke on her daughter’s behalf, saying the signs of violence were there, and urging families not to ignore them.
“A parent sometimes knows,” she told the First Coast News, “I just knew in my gut that their relationship was not a healthy relationship.”
Gawain would take Megan’s phone away from her, and he would refuse to let her take the car without his permission, and without saying where she was going. He would go through the house breaking things, like small electronic items, when he was angry.
He also verbally abused Megan, calling her fat.
“The babies were three days old and he would ask her, ‘So when are you going to start losing weight’,” her Mum said.
The First Coast news says the boyfriend, Gawain Rushane Wilson, 28, killed his twins, Hayden Rose and Kayden Reese Hiatt, who were five months old; and Megan’s father, Travis James Hiatt, before turning the gun on himself.
If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence please contact 1800 RESPECT, or visit their website 1800respect, for help or call 000 if you are in immediate danger.
