US

Mother Allegedly Suffocates 1-Year-Old Son, Shoots Self After Facebook Diatribe

[Screenshot/Facebook/Public - User: Sheri Shermeyer]

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Eric Lieberman Managing Editor
Font Size:

A 40-year-old Pennsylvania woman and her one-year-old son were found dead at their home Monday by police after the mother published a very foreboding message on social media.

“I have been slowly dying inside. I’m confused, just torn down, hardly ever go out in public anymore, don’t socialize with people, I’ve become a hermit. I feel that the ONLY things I have to live for is this little guy asleep in my arms right now, John,” Sheri Shermeyer wrote on a lengthy Facebook post that was published just before 11:00 a.m. Eastern time Monday.

“He is the only reason why I haven’t blown my head off right now. And even now, all I can think about is leaving this world. Putting a gun in my mouth and leaving. Which is what is going to happen,” she continued.

Around two hours later, the Pennsylvania State Police responded to the home in Shrewsbury Township to conduct a welfare check, according to the York Dispatch. (RELATED: PA Mayor Urged To Resign After Facebook Posts Show Obama, Apes, And Lynching)

Shermeyer was discovered dead in bed with what authorities believe is a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The one-year-old baby, John Shermeyer, appeared to have been suffocated by the mother.

The extended Facebook post starts off as a remorseful monologue, but then quickly turns into a vitriolic diatribe, blaming the husband, John R. Shermeyer for her emotional trauma.

“You will never see your son again. You don’t deserve to have a son, to have a legacy. Why should you have your name carried on? You are a nasty man. Sure you have a big heart and can be the most loving and caring person. But where had he gone?” Sheri wrote. “Call me names all you want, but leave him [the son] out of this. This is why you will never see him ever again.”

Sheri said that once she and her son are gone, her husband can continue his drinking, smoking and drug consuming lifestyle.

As for the reasoning behind making the ordeal public, Sheri said its necessary for the elder John to understand what he’s done to her.

“Why am I putting this on social media for all to see? Because this seems to be the only way you will listen or see it. Seems to piss you off when I put ‘something out there’. So here it is for all to see. You’re not so great a guy, you’re an asshole who deserves to be alone. Good bye, good riddance, wish I never wasted these past years with you. Hope I don’t see you in Hell.” (RELATED: Florida Fugitive Arrested After Changing Facebook Pic To Wanted Poster)

Along from the gloomy and angry soliloquy, Sheri’s Facebook profile was fairly ominous. The vast majority of her pictures were quotes that could be interpreted as inspirational or menacing. Sheri’s Facebook cover photo (the image appearing at the top of a person’s profile page), for instance, read “Sometimes what you’re most afraid of doing is the very thing that will set you free.”

Sheri’s final post was shared roughly 1,500 times at the time of this article being written. There were also more than 1,600 comments, many showing sympathy for Sheri’s situation, but at the same time not condoning her decision to take her own — and especially her son’s — life.

Follow Eric on Twitter

Send tips to eric@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.