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The Star-Telegram
Dec. 13, 2017
Christopher Chad Dawson NORTH RICHLAND HILLS–On the morning of Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, Christopher Chad Dawson lost the battle of severe depression. After years of suffering with anxiety, depression set hold and Chris was unable to escape its clutch. MEMORIAL SERVICE: 2 p.m. Thursday, Northgate Church. He found happiness in teaching Luke sport skills and watching him at his sport games. He helped Luke through a lot of his anxiety, but was overwhelmed with the thought of Luke growing up to be like him. Bree was his little princess and he never wanted to go to bed without a kiss and big hug. His children adored him and he adored them. Chris worked hard to overcome his anxiety. He obtained his business degree form TCU before deciding he wanted to commit his life to medicine. He sacrificed fun, free time, and relaxation to receive his medical degree in UTHSCSA. He then took on the challenge of surgical residency in Phoenix, Ariz. Between his ever-present anxiety, long work hours and intense stress, the Chris we knew and loved began to fade.
Chris and Rachel started having extreme marital problems, but the children were always loved above all. He managed to make it through residency, but was damaged and attempted to self-medicate his hurt. He fought to get out of the deep, deep hole he was in but was afraid of the repercussion of his career if he were to get professional help. He felt hopeless, worthless, and trapped. On Saturday morning, while not in his right mind, he did the unimaginable. But that was not the Chris his family and friends knew and loved. Chris was an intelligent surgeon, a loving father who had so much to offer the world. But the sick disease of depression, anxiety and addiction did not allow him to continue the journey. SURVIVORS: Survived by his wife, Rachel Williams Dawson; parents, Ken and Joyce Dawson of Burleson; brothers, Jeremy and wife, Bianca Dawson, Colton Dawson and Michael and wife, Becky Timberlake; and a multitude of extended family.
Killer and Victims Named, Cause of Death Announced in North Texas Murder-Suicide — (The Epoch Times)
Authorities have identified the perpetrator and victims in what police are calling a murder-suicide in the quiet Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of North Richland Hills, Star-Telegram reports.
According to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office, Dr. Christopher Dawson, 36, a surgeon, took his own life with a shotgun, after first shooting dead both his children.
Officials identified the victims as Luke Dawson, 9, and Aubrey Dawson, 5, and stated that both Luke died from gunshot wounds to his head and torso, and Aubrey died of a gunshot wound to her head.
Dawson was employed at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, Waxahachie from Sept. 4 until Oct. 20, according to hospital records.
The clinic did not provide information about the circumstances of Dawson’s departure from the medical facility, but issued the following statement:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all those affected by this tragedy.”
The horrific incident took place at the family’s home in 7400 block of South College Circle, North Richland Hills, Fort Worth, Texas, on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 9, the Epoch Times reported.
The mother of the children, Rachel Dawson, reportedly discovered all the bodies and called North Richland Hills police around 7:15 a.m. Saturday.
The family moved to Texas several months ago.
“I met Rachel at a boot camp class and she would bring her kids, Luke and Bree, sometimes,” said the woman’s former Phoenix area neighbor Ariel Borg, 12News reports.
Borg says she befriended Rachel Dawson and her kids, but said something didn’t seem right with her husband.
“He was very, very controlling of Rachel to the extent that after a certain point he no longer allowed her to be friends with us,” Borg said.
Then the unthinkable happened.
“We saw warning signs but I don’t think anyone could have guessed that this would’ve happened. It shocked everyone,” said Borg.
According to Star-Telegram, neighbors living across the street from the Dawson family residence said they heard an alarming noise around 6:30 a.m., as they were preparing to leave for work.
“We heard some weird like yelp-type thing. She was like, ‘Did you hear that?’ I thought it was an animal or something,” neighbor Tanner Franklin said.
Another neighbor heard the mother’s screams early in the morning and later saw police on the scene.
The authorities say they have no record of any prior incidents involving the family, nor were they aware of any signs that anything may have been amiss.
“There’s no history here,” police spokeswoman Carissa Katekaru told NBC5. “We’re still trying to figure out why. I grew up in North Richland Hills and I would call this a pretty quiet neighborhood.”
Ariel Borg is hosting a candlelight vigil at her home for Rachel, Luke, and Bree Wednesday night, Dec. 13. It will be led by her family and the pastor of the church the Dawsons once attended.
“This community is feeling that loss. Her family [were] our neighbor[s],” Borg said.