A troubled Florida firefighter killed his wife in a murder-suicide just weeks after she posted on Facebook that her husband’s grueling work schedule had reached its limits.
Lt. Shawn Yarbrough of the St. Johns County Fire Rescue Department opened fire on his wife, Andrea Yarbrough, 34, at their home in St. Augustine, northeast Florida.
According to the incident report, Yarbrough then turned the gun on himself, and police later found the couple dead in a second-floor bathroom on June 13 just after 9 p.m.
The couple, who had been married for a year, had a blended family with four children.
Police were initially called to the home to check on Andrea’s safety after her mother was unable to be contacted.
On May 31, Andrea posted a monthly log of her husband’s department’s activities on Facebook, which included 3,203 calls for service.
“This is why all our loved ones are exhausted and can’t function 100% at home,” she wrote next to the photo.
Nearly a month later, she and her husband both passed away.
The devoted mother, who worked as a financial manager, posted three photos of her happy-looking family on Facebook after raising the alarm about her husband’s working conditions.
She has an 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship and he has three sons.
“She loved those kids and she wanted the best for them,” Andrea’s mother, Debbie Churchill, told Fox News Digital. “It’s so confusing and painful right now. I can’t explain it. I don’t even know how to explain it. No one can understand it unless they’ve been through it.”
Andrea’s sister, Olivia Marvin Local Outlet Action Jax Her brother had been optimistic about his life before the shocking outburst of violence.
“We are so depressed,” she said. “We thought everything was finally going to be OK. My mother was so proud of all her children and what they were doing. She always tried and wanted the best for everyone.”
Yarbrough’s supervisor, St. Johns County Fire-Rescue Captain Sean McGehee, addressed the murder-suicide in a Facebook post.
“The recently reported incidents were unexpected, shocking and tragic for all those affected,” he said. “As an agency, we are deeply saddened by the loss of life and recognize the lasting impacts on the families and children of those affected.”
Suicide has long plagued emergency departments across the country.
According to a report by the Ruderman Family Foundation, more paramedics die by suicide each year than die in the line of duty.
Around 1,200 police officers and prison officers committed suicide between 2016 and 2022, a UK police report says. The nonprofit FirstHelp organization.
According to the group, 122 police officers, 25 firefighters and 10 corrections officers took their own lives last year.
Katherine Kullman, a psychologist who specializes in caring for emergency personnel, said many affected police and firefighters avoid mental health services that could prevent a tragic outcome.
“There’s always been a stigma around mental health in firefighters and police,” she told Fox News Digital. “They’re heroes, they’re supposed to be the ones helping other people, but … if they feel like something’s not right, it feels like they’re admitting weakness.”
Kullman said firefighters in particular face overwhelming stress and pressure throughout their jobs.
“Exposure to trauma is high and there is little time to process and address the trauma after a dramatic call before moving on to the next shift, the next call. For paramedics, trauma accumulates over time,” she said.
The underlying psychological stressors that lead to suicide also contribute to murder-suicides, Kuhlman added.
According to the Violence Policy Center, roughly 600 murder-suicides occur nationwide each year.
A family member set up a GoFundMe for Yarbrough’s daughter, which has raised more than $10,000.
Marvin told Action Jax that his sister was tenacious and strong-willed, no matter how difficult the situation.
“Andrea was an incredible gift to our entire family and to everyone who came into contact with her,” Marvin said. “Anyone who knew her knew that no matter how difficult the situation, she never gave up.”
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can receive free, confidential crisis counseling by calling 1-888-NYC-WELL. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can call the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
