Okla. Couple Killed 6 Kids in Murder-Suicide; Family Struggled with Debts, Father's Head Injury

Mar. 15, 2025

Family members allege theparents accused of killing their six children in an apparent murder-suicidemay have been facing mounting financial pressures prior to their deaths.

Speaking withTulsa World,Brian’s parents, Danny and Marilyn Nelson, confirmed their grandchildren — Brian II, 13; Brantley, 9; Vegeta, 7; Ragnar, 5; Kurgan, 2; and Britannica, 1 — were the six juvenile victims in Thursday’s incident.

“Five came and went, then it was 6. I texted them — no responses,” Danny told the paper. “I turned on the 6 o’clock news, and they said there had been a fire near Hickory and Galveston in Broken Arrow. That’s where my son lives.”

The Nelson Family.Andrea Eger/Tulsa World via AP

Danny suspects the family of eight’s mountain of money troubles and a head injury Brian reportedly sustained in the workplace may have been motivation for him and his wife to kill their family, the outlet reports.

The couple was unemployed at the time of the filing and receiving financial assistance from the government, the outlet reports.

“I think the stress was what got to them — trying to figure out how to make it from one month, to one month, to one month,” Danny told the outlet.

“Then, every time one of those headaches came around, he just would lose it because it was so excruciating,” Marilyn added.

“I want people to know that at one time he had all his brain together,” she said. “I just don’t understand why they did what they did. I just don’t understand why he ended up in that situation. I talk to God all the time — and I just don’t understand.”

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Firefighters allegedly discovered the bodies of Brian and Brittney in the front of their blazing Broken Arrow, Okla., home Thursday, while the bodies of their six children were discovered in a rear bedroom, where the majority of the fire was contained, authorities said.

Firearms were also recovered from the scene.

The investigation remains ongoing.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go tosuicidepreventionlifeline.org.

source: people.com