Suicide notes by mother who killed herself, her children and her ex's girlfriend made public

Police have released the handwritten suicide notes of a mother who killed her two children and her former partner’s girlfriend before taking her own life.

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina released three letters written by Jessica Edens, who shot her two children, Harper, five, and Hayden, nine, as well as Meredith Rahme before turning the gun on herself.

The case file, which also contains details about the incident reports as well as radio traffic and phone records, was made public following a Freedom of Information request by The Greenville News.

Twenty-eight-year-old Rahme had been shot on July 13 in her vehicle, on the third floor of her apartment’s parking area, and her body was later found behind her car.

“Everyone you love is gone. Do you hear? I’m about to be gone too,” 36-year-old Edens reportedly told her estranged husband Ben in what would be her final phone call to him.

The bodies of Edens and her children were later found in a Jeep on the Greenville-Pickens motorway. All three had died of gunshot wounds, the coroner confirmed.

Three notes, written in Edens’ handwriting, were also found in her Jeep.

One note read: “For my parents and sister: I am so sorry for the pain I am causing all of you. You’ve always been there for me and I love you all so much. I know what I have done is selfish, but I cannot live with this pain any longer. I just cannot handle it. It is too much. It hurts too much. I will no longer be in pain and my children will no longer hurt either. I am so so sorry. I love you all.”

The second, to her former husband, wrote: “You have caused me more pain than I’ve ever been in in my life. You have caused my children pain. I hope you rot one day for what you have done to me and my kids. You can no longer hurt us. We are at peace. I hope you live with pain and shame and guilt for the rest of your life.”

A third was titled: "Last Will and Testament."

According to the police report, Edens had become “distraught” following a family court proceeding that was held earlier the same week prior to the shootings.

Sheriff Rick Clark said in a statement: “As we struggle to understand how a parent could possibly come to a decision such as this, we have to focus on tomorrow and the opportunity to provide services and solutions to those that feel that their life and the lives of their loved ones must end in order to find peace.

“We live in a stressful world during difficult times but there are resources that stand ready to offer help and assist you if you feel that you have no other options left in life.

“Please reach out to law enforcement so that we can be the bridge to lead you to a road of recovery. In time, you will see that all things come to pass and you too can become a stronger person with hope and faith in a brighter future.

“All of us need a helping hand from time to time as we walk through life and asking for help is not a sign of weakness that any of us should be ashamed of.”

You can contact the Samaritans by calling free on 116 123, emailing jo@samaritans.org or visiting www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.