Killarney mother chief suspect in family murder suicide in US
COOLCASLAUGH-BORN MUM FOUND DEAD WITH HUSBAND AND TWO TEENAGE SONS AFTER DOMESTIC SHOOTING INCIDENT IN RENO, NEVADA
HUNDREDS of people from Killarney and the surrounding community will gather in St Mary’s Cathedral today ( Wednesday, March 11) to sympathise with the Kelly family following the horrific murder suicide in the US that has rocked the local community.
On Thursday last, the news broke that Joan Huber, née Kelly (from Coolcoslaugh in Killarney) had been found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in Reno, Nevada.
She is the daughter of the former East Kerry GAA president and chairperson John Kelly, who is known across Kerry for his football and rowing links. Her mother is Sheila Kelly née Doolan, also from a well-known Kerry family with strong links to Spa GAA Club.
Just hours after the tragic news emerged from the US, following an investigation by the US police, Joan became the chief suspect in the murder-suicide that led to the death of her husband, Adam; and her two sons, Adam and Michael, aged 16 and 17 years of age.
The news was incomprehensible to many in Killarney, and in Reno, Nevada, where the family lived.
In a statement from the Reno Police, they said they responded to a call on “March 4 at approximately 11.04 hours, to the 10,000 BLK of Canyon Country CT, on a report of a deceased subject. Subsequent investigation revealed three other deceased subjects within the residence that are believed to be members of the same family who reside there.
“This appears to be an isolated incident and there is no threat to the community,” the police said.
Local media outlets reported the police arrived to the house after friends and family had been unable to contact them for a number of days.
They later updated their report stating that the chief suspect in the case has been identified as 53-year old Reno resident Joan Huber. The police stated that in the preceding days of March 4, she shot her husband, 50-year-old Adam Huber and their two teenager children, before taking her own life. The weapon used in the case was a firearm. The police said they are still investigating the incident, and there is still no known motive for the murder-suicide.
Ms Huber grew up in Killarney and is one of five siblings of John and Sheila Kelly, along with Bernadette, Kathryn, Denis and Patrick. Bernadette lives close by the family home. John Kelly, who was a psychiatric nurse, passed away just two years ago. He was a former chairperson and president of East Kerry, and was also involved in the Killarney Regatta committee. He was also heavily involved with Spa GAA club, as was the Doolan family.
Ms Huber had emigrated to the US more than 30 years ago. She had attended Lissivigeen National School and the Presentation Secondary School in the town.
Mayor of Killarney Cllr Michael Gleeson is a friend of the family and said the news has devastated the entire community, and sympathies are flowing in to support the Kelly family, who have been left shocked and upset by the tragedy in the US.
“I want to express my deep sympathy to the family on my behalf, on behalf of the entire Spa and Lissivigeen community and the people of Killarney. The Kelly family are known by the community in matters of sport and all matters that benefit the community,” he said.
Cllr Gleeson said the news was “horrific beyond understanding”.
Spa GAA club also expressed sympathy on behalf of the club to the Kelly family, and said their thoughts were with them at this time.
Hundreds of comments were left on social media also expressing support for the family.
In the US, the Damonte Ranch High School, where both Adam and Michael Huber attended, issued a statement on the loss of their two students in the horrific incident, and said they were offering support to all the students affected by the tragedy.
They said that the two teenagers died in a domestic situation.
The Irish American group Maids of Erin, which Joan Huber was a member of, also expressed sympathy. The family were due to attend a St Patrick’s Day dinner in recent days, and a tribute was held at this event for the Huber family.
Adam Huber worked as a Master Technician at Reno Buick GMC since 2006, and they also paid tribute to him as a valued employee and said they were co-operating with the investigation.
The community in Killarney will have the opportunity to sympathise with the Kelly family following Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral tomorrow.
No funeral arrangements had been made at the time of going to print.
THE NEWS IS HORRIFIC BEYOND UNDERSTANDING I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SYMPATHY TO THE KELLY FAMILY Mayor of Killarney Michael Gleeson