Community mourns victims of West Duluth murder-suicide – Duluth News Tribune

DULUTH – Authorities believe a man killed his wife, ex-partner and two children before taking his own life Thursday.

Duluth police said Friday they are continuing to investigate the motive and timing of the shootings at two West Duluth residences.

The victims were identified as Erin Abramson, 47, and her son Jacob Nephew, 15, and Kathryn “Kat” Nephew Ramsland, 45, and her son Oliver Nephew, 7.

The suspected shooter, Anthony “Tony” Nephew, 46, was also found dead from an apparent gunshot wound himself. He was married to Ramsland and had two children. He had spoken openly about mental health issues in the past.

“This doesn't happen often in our community,” said Mayor Roger Reinert, “and it's been a few years since we've seen something like this.” We will mourn, but we will also make sure we support these families and ours Support public safety team.”

Police Chief Mike Ceynowa said the concerns were first raised by Abramson's colleague after she failed to show up for work. Officers arrived at her apartment, 6009 Tacony St., shortly after 2 p.m. and found both she and Jacob Nephew dead.

After identifying Anthony Nephew as a suspect, police set up a perimeter around his home, less than a mile east, 4401 W. Sixth St., next to Denfeld High School. Ceynowa said a drone was used to search the interior of the house and discovered the bodies of Ramsland, Oliver Nephew and Anthony Nephew.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and loved ones of the four victims of this tragic incident,” Ceynowa said at a news conference. “We would also like to extend our condolences to the Duluth community and the Superior community as this is a senseless and tragic event.”

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

A criminal record check reveals no prior convictions for Nephew. However, in a 2021 opinion piece for the News Tribune, he wrote openly about his mental health struggles, saying the issue had been “untreated or ignored” by society.

“For millions of Americans, collapse leads to suicide — or murder before suicide,” Nephew wrote in the op-ed.

Gary Meader/Duluth Media Group

Ceynowa confirmed that police were aware of a “pattern of psychological problems” in Nephew, but investigators were still looking for more specific motives. The chief said they are also combing through cell phone data to determine the timeline of events.

Ceynowa confirmed that there had been a number of calls to the Sixth Street address, but did not elaborate on the nature of the reports.

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Abramson worked for the City of Superior as a collection systems engineering and operations manager in the Environmental Services Department. She also served on the Duluth Public Utilities Commission.

Mayor Jim Paine said her department is perhaps the “most important department in the city of Superior” and its loss is a “very serious blow” to staff.

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

“She dedicated her life and work to protecting the public health of Superior and the Northern Woods of Wisconsin and protecting the health of Lake Superior,” Paine said. “Erin has been a very valuable employee to the City of Superior. We will miss her very much for her work and her personality. She had a number of friends, I hope including myself, in town.”

Ramsland was a professor in the art department at Lake Superior College. According to public records, she married Nephew in 2014, and the two were featured in a News Tribune story the following year when they purchased the home in the Denfeld neighborhood.

LSC officials called Ramsland a “valued” faculty member and said advisory services would be offered.

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

“She was a passionate educator and valued colleague who left a lasting impression on her students, the college and all who had the privilege of knowing her,” a statement said. “This tragic loss is deeply felt throughout our entire campus community, and we extend our condolences to her family, friends and students during this difficult time.”

Oliver Nephew was described as a “beloved” first-grader at Duluth Public Schools’ Rockridge Academy.

“Our deepest condolences and thoughts go out to Oliver’s family and friends as they cope with this unimaginable loss, as well as others affected by the tragedy that has struck our community,” Superintendent John Magas said in a statement.

“We recognize the profound impact these events will have on our students, staff and families. Our district has mobilized a crisis team to provide support and counseling to those in need. We are committed to helping our school community during this difficult time.”

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Jacob Nephew visited Marshall School, where staff also “worked to help students, staff and families understand and cope with this tragedy.”

“Jacob’s impact on our school community was profound and he had many gifts,” Jennifer Berry, director of advancement, said in an email. “A talented musician, Jacob was recently honored as part of the UMD Honor Orchestra. He was an important part of our Knowledge Bowl team, our Nordic Ski team, our orchestra, our chess club and our Environmental Advocacy Club. A talented academic and generous spirit, Jacob will be sorely missed by our entire community.”

It appears to be the second quadruple murder-suicide in Duluth in less than three years – something that hasn't happened in the city in at least several decades, if ever.

In April 2022, Sean, Riana, Shiway and Sadie Barry were killed in their East Hillside home by a relative, Brandon Taylor Cole-Skogstad. This tragedy sparked an outpouring of support, including a large vigil outside her home and the dedication of a new playground in her honor in Chester Park.