Sara Duffey, an Oklahoma influencer, was shot dead by her estranged husband Jeremiah Shawn Duffey in a murder-suicide Thursday night, July 23, the Owasso Police Department said. Shawn then killed himself.
Event Context
Police said that a neighbor called 911 after Shawn’s son, who witnessed the shooting, came to her door asking for help, per newson6.
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Sara had been granted a protective order against her husband last month, which he violated on Thursday night, police said. According to court records, she had also filed a protective order against him in 2021.
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Sara filed the protective order against her husband last month, claiming that he was caught kissing a child on one of the basketball teams that he coaches. According to the protective order, Shawn threatened suicide and went on the run after being confronted, according to 2 News Oklahoma.
The mother of the child also filed a protective order against Shawn. She had alleged that he was paying her daughter to stay quiet about his inappropriate messages and actions.
The incident has stunned the community and neighbors. “Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate,” said Brittany Fisher, per 2 News Oklahoma. “It does not pick you because you have a nice home, socially or economically, it does not matter.”
Sara, who went by Sara Gilson, worked as a hairstylist. She was also a TikTok influencer, and used the platform to sell clothes and jewelry.
A GoFundMe has been launched to help Sara’s children.
“Last night, our beautiful friend, Sara, was tragically taken from us in an unimaginable act of violence. Her sudden and heartbreaking loss has left an entire community grieving, but the greatest loss is felt by her two precious children, who must now face life without their loving mother,” the page reads.
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“Sara was an incredible mom. Her children were the center of her world, and everything she did was for them. She loved them fiercely, worked hard to provide for them, and dreamed of giving them the best life possible,” it added.
The page said that the donations will help Sara’s children with “their immediate needs, counseling, education, funeral expenses, and other costs that arise as they begin this unimaginable journey without their mother.”
“We both discussed how we were so ready for the rapture because we were tired of this world and ready to be with Jesus every day. She LOVED Jesus. She loved her babies and Jesus. She was the MOST loyal girls girl. She told me everything every time, and always told me how beautiful I was and how I deserved the world,” she added.
A vigil for Sara has been scheduled for Saturday at 8 pm at Morrow Elementary School in Collinsville.
