Police in Wisconsin have confirmed that Mellissa Rupnow, whose daughter killed two people and then herself at a Christian school last December, has died by what “appears a suicide.”
Fifteen-year-old Natalie Rupnow opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School (ALCS) in Madison, Wisconsin, on Dec. 16, 2024. The teen, a student at the school, shot and killed one teacher and one student, injured six others, and then died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Natalie Rupnow reportedly had a turbulent home life. Parents Mellissa and Jeffrey Rupnow had married and divorced each other multiple times. According to reports, the couple argued often in front of their daughter, and Mellissa had a history of substance abuse.
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Both of Natalie Rupnow’s parents cooperated with the school-shooting investigation, authorities said. Although custody of Natalie had shifted over the years, the Rupnows called their co-parenting relationship “positive.”
Court records indicate that in 2022, when Natalie was living with her dad, Mellissa Rupnow agreed to attend counseling sessions with Natalie. Mellissa told investigators that a therapist had diagnosed Natalie with post-traumatic stress disorder due to her parents’ split.
In May, Jeffrey Rupnow was arrested and charged with two felony counts of intent to sell a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 and one felony count of contributing to the delinquency of a child. According to the criminal complaint, police had previously notified Natalie’s father that the teen had engaged in “high-risk” behavior online.
Police said Natalie had been communicating about mass shootings with a 20-year-old man in California. Although that man has not been charged with a crime, a restraining order imposed in April prevents him from owning or purchasing firearms for three years.
