Florida mom Crystal Kenney — slain this week in an horrific Christmas-week murder-suicide — was the “foundation” of her family, said friends who helped organize an online fundraiser for her kids.
Kenney was shot and killed Monday by her husband, Joseph, who opened fire in an apparent drunken rage after she asked him to turn off a football game.
Joseph Kenney then shot Crystal’s 13-year-old daughter in the head, before fleeing and ultimately killing himself, authorities said.
Crystal Kenney leaves behind three children, including a 13-year-old daughter who remains hospitalized but is expected to survive, according to a GoFundMe launched after h…
Florida mom Crystal Kenney — slain this week in an horrific Christmas-week murder-suicide — was the “foundation” of her family, said friends who helped organize an online fundraiser for her kids.
Kenney was shot and killed Monday by her husband, Joseph, who opened fire in an apparent drunken rage after she asked him to turn off a football game.
Joseph Kenney then shot Crystal’s 13-year-old daughter in the head, before fleeing and ultimately killing himself, authorities said.
Crystal Kenney leaves behind three children, including a 13-year-old daughter who remains hospitalized but is expected to survive, according to a GoFundMe launched after her death. Facebook / Crystal Kenney
Kenney daughter, who is in critical condition but is expected to survive, remained hospitalized, according to the fundraiser.
“With heavy hearts, we share the heartbreaking loss of Crystal, a loving and devoted mother whose life was stolen far too soon,” the fundraiser, posted Dec. 23, reads.
“Her beautiful 13-year-old daughter is also in critical condition in the hospital right now. She is expected to pull through.”
“Being a mother was not just a role for Crystal — it was who she was. She loved her children fiercely and unconditionally, always putting their needs before her own,” according to the GoFundMe.
The campaign had raised just about $10,000 as of Saturday.
A fundraiser created in Crystal Kenney’s name says she was the foundation of her family and is seeking help with funeral costs and her daughter’s medical recovery. Facebook / Crystal Kenney
Organizers say the funds will help cover funeral expenses, assist with the teen’s recovery and provide long-term support for Kenney’s children as they adjust to life without their mother.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Jason Kenney had been drinking when his wife suggested turning off the game between the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts.
During the argument, Crystal Kenney’s 12-year-old son fled to a neighbor’s house and called 911.
The boy heard gunshots as he ran, authorities later said.
Friends say neighbors stepped in overnight after the shooting, delivering meals, watching children and providing around-the-clock support to the grieving family. AJ Johnson/Facebook
Deputies later found Crystal Kenney dead from a gunshot wound. Her 13-year-old daughter had been shot in the face and shoulder but survived what Judd called a“Christmas miracle.”
A 1-year-old girl the couple shared was found unharmed, asleep in her crib.
Jason Kenney fled the scene and later shot himself in a shed at his late father’s home as deputies surrounded the property, authorities said.
In the days after the murder, friends say the focus has turned to caring for the children left behind.
Kenney’s 13-year-old daughter was critically injured in the shooting but has been described by officials as alert and expected to recover. Facebook / Jason Kenney
Facebook posts from Crystal Kenney’s close friend, Crystal Locklear Rusticus, describe neighbors and loved ones delivering meals, watching the kids overnight and providing constant help in the immediate aftermath.
“I want to thank each and everyone who have been beside us and helping provide dinner for Crystal’s kids last night, and breakfast this morning,” Rusticus wrote in a Christmas Eve post.
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She said others stepped in to sit with the children while she handled errands and deliveries, adding, “It all got done, and thanks to amazing people and support in our lives.”
Rusticus repeatedly described Kenney as a deeply devoted mother and woman of faith, writing she “always made every holiday special for her babies” and that her children would always know how deeply they were loved.
She also described children rallying around one another, sharing beds and refusing to leave each other’s sides as the family processed the trauma.
“She will live through the hearts of every single person who loved her,” Rusticus wrote, vowing continued support for Kenney’s children and family.