{"id":97265,"date":"2025-12-28T04:43:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T04:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/97265\/"},"modified":"2025-12-28T04:43:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T04:43:07","slug":"gofundme-supports-children-after-florida-holiday-murder-suicide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/97265\/","title":{"rendered":"GoFundMe supports children after Florida holiday murder-suicide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida mom Crystal Kenney \u2014 slain this week in an horrific Christmas-week murder-suicide<\/a> \u2014 was the \u201cfoundation\u201d of her family, said friends who helped organize an online fundraiser for her kids.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Joseph Kenney then shot Crystal\u2019s 13-year-old daughter in the head, before fleeing and ultimately killing himself, authorities said. <\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Kenney daughter, who is in critical condition but is expected to survive, remained hospitalized, according to the fundraiser. <\/p>\n

\u201cWith heavy hearts, we share the heartbreaking loss of Crystal, a loving and devoted mother whose life was stolen far too soon,\u201d the fundraiser, posted Dec. 23, reads. <\/p>\n

\u201cHer beautiful 13-year-old daughter is also in critical condition in the hospital right now. She is expected to pull through.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a mother was not just a role for Crystal \u2014 it was who she was. She loved her children fiercely and unconditionally, always putting their needs before her own,\u201d according to the GoFundMe.<\/p>\n

The campaign had raised just about $10,000<\/a> as of Saturday.<\/p>\n

A fundraiser created in Crystal Kenney\u2019s name says she was the foundation of her family and is seeking help with funeral costs and her daughter\u2019s medical recovery. Facebook \/ Crystal Kenney<\/p>\n

Organizers say the funds will help cover funeral expenses, assist with the teen\u2019s recovery and provide long-term support for Kenney\u2019s children as they adjust to life without their mother.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

During the argument, Crystal Kenney\u2019s 12-year-old son fled to a neighbor\u2019s house and called 911.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The boy heard gunshots as he ran, authorities later said.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

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 \u201cChristmas miracle.\u201d\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

A 1-year-old girl the couple shared was found unharmed, asleep in her crib.<\/p>\n

Jason Kenney fled the scene and later shot himself in a shed<\/a> at his late father\u2019s home as deputies surrounded the property, authorities said.<\/p>\n

In the days after the murder, friends say the focus has turned to caring for the children left behind.<\/p>\n

Kenney\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

Facebook posts from Crystal Kenney\u2019s close friend, Crystal Locklear Rusticus, describe neighbors and loved ones delivering meals, watching the kids overnight and providing constant help in the immediate aftermath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank each and everyone who have been beside us and helping provide dinner for Crystal\u2019s kids last night, and breakfast this morning,\u201d Rusticus wrote in a Christmas Eve post. <\/a><\/p>\n

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She said others stepped in to sit with the children while she handled errands and deliveries, adding, \u201cIt all got done, and thanks to amazing people and support in our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rusticus repeatedly described Kenney as a deeply devoted mother and woman of faith, writing she \u201calways made every holiday special for her babies\u201d and that her children would always know how deeply they were loved.<\/p>\n

She also described children rallying around one another, sharing beds and refusing to leave each other\u2019s sides as the family processed the trauma.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe will live through the hearts of every single person who loved her,\u201d Rusticus wrote<\/a>, vowing continued support for Kenney\u2019s children and family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Florida mom Crystal Kenney \u2014 slain this week in an horrific Christmas-week murder-suicide \u2014 was the \u201cfoundation\u201d of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":97266,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1191,265,28,30,29,24680,7860,6889,4278],"class_list":["post-97265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-florida","tag-christmas","tag-crime","tag-florida","tag-florida-headlines","tag-florida-news","tag-metro","tag-murder-suicide","tag-shootings","tag-us-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}