Friends and neighbors honor victims of murder-suicide

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – The city of Duluth is in mourning after five people died in a murder-suicide in the city's West End.

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“The run today (Friday) was really difficult because you feel the loss of someone who almost feels like family,” Katie Benzinger said.

Benzinger is part of the Moms Run This Town (MRTT) group, which has been meeting for morning runs in the Twin Ports for years.

But on Friday morning they were without a founding member who many say was the happiest person they had seen at five in the morning.

“Erin was one of the first friends many of us made when we moved to Duluth and joined the running group,” Benzinger said.

47-year-old Erin Abramson and her son, 15-year-old Jacob Nephew, were two of the four victims killed by 45-year-old Anthony Nephew on Thursday. Police say Nephew and Abramson had a previous relationship and the two are the parents of Jacob.

According to Duluth police, officers responded to Tacony Street after a welfare check was initiated because Abramson did not show up for work on Thursday.

According to the DPD, just a few hours later, 45-year-old Kathryn Nephew and seven-year-old Oliver Nephew were found dead in their West Sixth Street home. Police also discovered the body of Anthony Nephew, who had turned the gun on himself.

The community remembers Oliver as a leader of positivity for those around him.

Just last year, he created a “free toy library” so that neighborhood children could have access to toys.

A neighbor told us that his children were friends with Oliver, and after hearing the news, the family stayed home on Friday.

Niqkee Whittet, who lived down the street, couldn't believe this was happening in her own neighborhood.

“It’s shocking, it’s devastating, it’s heartbreaking,” Whittet said. We don’t hear about that in the Denfeld area.”

She said if Oliver or his mother Kathryn ever noticed the box was empty, they would refill it immediately.

“I think that shook everyone to their core because they didn't see Oliver and Kat outside and didn't know if there was going to be any trinkets outside,” Whittet said.

“That in itself is devastating. It was just something that brought a little joy to the neighborhood.”

The community has now turned the toy library into a vigil for Oliver and his mother, but Whittet says it won't be the same without them.

“Walking past the box will…it will be different now.”

“I think we're all just heartbroken and shocked by the situation and the news that we learned this morning and just can't imagine what that was like for her,” Benzinger said.

The MRTT group plans to hold a memorial run for Abramson and her son on Saturday.

“Life will continue through her memories and we will all show up in the dark in the morning with a big smile like Erin always would,” Benzinger said.

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