On January 27, 2011, 13-year-old Beau Schenecker and his 16-year-old sister Calyx were found shot to death in their Tampa, Florida, home. Beau was discovered in the family SUV in the garage and Calyx in her bedroom; both had been shot with a .38 revolver and covered with blankets. Their mother, Julie Powers Schenecker, confessed that she killed them, saying she did so because they were mouthy and disrespectful.

Julie Schenecker was arrested and indicted on two counts of first-degree murder. Her defense entered a not guilty plea and signaled an insanity defense, but the jury ultimately found her guilty of both counts without mental defect. On May 15, 2014, she was sentenced to two concurrent life terms without the possibility of parole. The family background drew attention during the case: the children’s father, U.S. Army Colonel Parker Schenecker, was stationed overseas at the time; prior child abuse allegations involving the family were reported but produced no criminal charges.