Julie Powers Schenecker (50) Shot Her Daughter Calyx (16) And Son Beau (13) For Being 'Mouthy'

Beaux and Calyx didn't see it coming when their own mother shot and shot them both with with a .38-caliber pistol.

Julie Schenecker left a note detailing her plans to kill her disrespectful children and then herself, saying, "They talked back and were mouthy and that she was going to take care of it," McElroy said. She provided the same motive to police who interviewed her.

According to an arrest affidavit, Schenecker shot her son twice in the head in the family car "for talking back" as she drove him to soccer practice. The report said Schenecker then drove to their upscale home and shot her daughter in the face inside the home.

What would cause a mother to do this? Julie Powers Schenecker’s mother, who lives in Texas, called Tampa police Friday morning, January 28, 2011, requesting a welfare check after receiving a disturbing email from her daughter. Her concern rose when she was unable to reach Julie by phone. She told officers that Julie had been depressed.

Her Facebook page appears to show an outwardly normal Mom with family and plents of friends.

Julie Powers and Parker Schenecker met in Munich, Germany while both were stationed there.

She worked as a Russian linguist for the Army, collecting intelligence for European agencies by interviewing refugees coming from the Eastern Bloc, said Tim Fredrikson, who served with her.

He was a rising intelligence officer who had graduated cum laude with a French degree from Washington and Lee University in Virginia, where the school yearbook is named the “Calyx.”

Interestingly enough the Department of Children and Families said it investigated the family about two months ago after getting a complaint. The tip was determined to be unfounded and the case closed. Spokesman Terry Field said he couldn't elaborate. One wonders if that could have been an opportunity missed.

My heart goes out to her husband and everyone who is suffering.