Police ID mother, daughter found dead in suspected murder-suicide in Chandler condominium

Jose R. Gonzalez and Rey Covarrubias Jr., Arizona Republic
Updated ·3 min read

Chandler police said a suspected murder-suicide left a woman and her 10-year-old daughter dead on Tuesday evening inside a Chandler condominium.

On Thursday, Chandler police identified the woman as 49-year-old Cheryl Brashier and her daughter as Shelby Brashier.

Just past 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers found the victims while conducting a welfare check in the area of North Priest Drive and West Orchid Lane while responding to a neighbor's 911 call, according to police.

"Detectives are still in the early stages of this investigation and are attempting to contact the next of kin," read a Tuesday night email statement from Chandler police spokeswoman Eve Zermeno.

Chandler police announced on Wednesday afternoon that the murder-suicide involved a 49-year-old woman and her 10-year-old daughter. Officials believed the mother shot and killed her daughter before ending her life.

Police said they received a 911 call from a family friend of the victims who had walked into the unlocked condo to find the two victims in a bedroom.

Officers said they located a firearm in the same room as the two bodies, according to Zermeno.

The investigation remained ongoing as police attempted to contact the victim's family.

There is no threat to the public, the email mentioned.

Brashier was a first-grade teacher aide at Grace Christian Academy elementary school in Tempe near McClintock Drive and Rural Road, according to Principal Kelvin Inouye.

Brashier's daughter had been enrolled at the school since the middle of the third grade and had recently graduated from fourth grade, according to Inouye.

Inouye said while Shelby was a relatively new student, she took full advantage of all of the school's offerings and was a "real bright, very energetic and fun-loving student of ours."

Inouye said a celebration of life at the adjoining Grace Community Church was already being planned.

"Cheryl was a single parent.... both mother and daughter were well-loved and respected by their friends, co-workers, students, and their families," read the email.

Counseling for adults and children impacted by the incident will be available by the church, according to an email to parents of the school.

Suicide, crisis hotlines for Arizonans

Services for Arizonans in crisis include:

  • Dial 2-1-1 at any time to reach the free 2-1-1 Arizona information and referral service and connect with free resources available locally throughout the state.

  • Solari Crisis & Human Services offers a free, statewide crisis line 24/7/365 – dial 844-534-HOPE (4673). Help is also available 24/7/365 via text by texting “hope” to 4HOPE (4673).

  • Dial 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available in English and Spanish. It's free and confidential for those in distress who need prevention or crisis resources for themselves or loved ones.

  • La Frontera Empact Suicide Prevention Center's crisis line serves Maricopa and Pinal counties 24/7 at 480-784-1500.

  • Teen Lifeline’s 24/7 crisis line serves teens at 602-248-8336 for Maricopa County and 1-800-248-8336 statewide.

  • The Trevor Project Lifeline serves LGBTQ youth at 866-488-7386 or by texting START to 678-678.

Domestic violence

Resources for Arizonans experiencing domestic violence include:

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Woman, girl found dead at Chandler home in suspected murder-suicide