A social media influencer in the United States was allegedly killed by her estranged husband less than two weeks after she publicly accused him of being a paedophile in a TikTok post, according to police and court records. Authorities identified the victim as 43-year-old Sara Gilson, also known as Sara Duffey, who was found dead alongside her estranged husband, 48-year-old Jeremiah Shawn Duffey, at their home in Collinsville, a suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Investigators believe the incident was a murder-suicide, although the case remains under investigation.
According to police, officers responded to the residence late on Thursday night after receiving a 911 call from inside the home. Dispatchers reportedly heard a woman screaming, followed by what appeared to be a gunshot before the call was disconnected. Moments later, a young boy called emergency services from a neighbouring house, telling authorities that his stepfather had shot his mother. When officers arrived at the scene, they found both Sara Gilson and Jeremiah Shawn Duffey dead from apparent gunshot wounds to the head.
The deaths occurred weeks after Gilson sought a protective order on 10 June to prevent Duffey from returning to the family home. Court records cited by US media also show that another woman filed a protective order on the same day, alleging Duffey had behaved inappropriately towards her teenage daughter. Legal filings claim he kissed and fondled the girl, sent inappropriate text messages, invited her to his hotel room during youth basketball trips and gave her money to remain silent. The allegations were reported to police in Owasso, Oklahoma, but no criminal conviction related to those allegations has been reported.
Also Read: Eight Found Dead in Michigan House Fire, Some With Gunshot Wounds
In her own court filing, Gilson referred to the allegations against her estranged husband and claimed he had access to firearms, had threatened suicide and had gone into hiding. On 11 July, she shared a TikTok video with her followers in which on-screen text stated she was preparing for the possibility of a documentary about her "soon-to-be ex-husband" after discovering he was allegedly a paedophile. The post gained widespread attention following her death, receiving millions of views across the platform.
Police said Gilson's son was initially taken into protective custody before being released to another parent who was not involved in the incident. She is survived by her son and daughter. An online fundraiser established for her children described her as a devoted mother who worked hard to provide for her family and said her children had always been the centre of her life. Supporters have since expressed condolences and pledged financial assistance for the family.
The case has renewed discussion in the United States about intimate partner violence and the importance of early intervention in domestic abuse situations. According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half of female homicide victims are killed by a current or former male intimate partner, while around one in five homicide victims overall are killed by an intimate partner. Authorities have not announced any further findings, and the investigation into the deaths remains ongoing.
Also Read: Elon Musk's X Expands Into Banking As Platform Pushes Toward 'Everything App' Vision