A Kokomo man is accused of restraining his 10-year-old daughter and forcing her to watch as he stabbed her mother repeatedly – then took his own life.
The incident occurred at 4 p.m. inside the family's home. When it was over, 39-year-old Mark Campbell was dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his estranged wife Jessica was in critical condition, suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Neighbors said they were numb after hearing what took place.
"I saw that the young child had witnessed what went on," said Melane Baublit. "It's just devastating. Devastating for the family, but the children, that's the part that really grinds me – the children part."
Experts say three women die in the U.S. every day because of domestic violence. The most vulnerable time for women is when the relationship is ending.
"That is when it can turn most significantly tragic," said Lindsey Davison, of the Family Service Association's domestic violence program. "Reach out to your support system. Reach out to the community, to police, to social workers. So you get that assistance. You say it's not going to happen to you, but unfortunately, that's not the case."
As of Tuesday night, Kokomo police said Jessica Campbell had been upgraded to "stable" at St. Vincent Hospital.
