Father of slain Deer Park children 'devastated'

The father of three children who were found shot to death with their mother inside the family’s Deer Park home this week said he was shocked at the idea his estranged wife could be responsible.

Murvin Auzenne Jr. said he and his wife were nearing the end of a contentious divorce and “she was very upset with the result.” He said she was particularly distressed that she would not be able to move with their children to her hometown, and would have to get a job and pay him rent if she remained in their home.

Auzenne said he was devastated and grieving the loss of his three children and estranged wife, whose bodies were discovered Tuesday by police performing a welfare check on the family.

Police identified the bodies as those of Ashley Auzenne, 39, and the couple’s children, Parrish, 11, Eleanor, 9, and Lincoln, 7.

“Ashley tried her best to be a good mother,” he said. “She and I had our issues, we argued and fought just like any other couple headed for divorce, but I never had any reason to believe she was capable of this. Nobody did.”

Deer Park police have declined to say how the crime occurred or whether they believe the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide scenario. However, Lt. Chris Brown said officials were not seeking a suspect and they believed the neighborhood was safe.

Investigators recovered a handgun from the home, but Brown would not say if they suspected the weapon was connected with the gruesome crime scene.

The couple's marriage had been fraying since 2017, when Ashley filed for divorce, according to Harris County civil court records. That case was dismissed and she again filed for divorce six months later. The couple had entered into a settlement last week, records show.

The children’s paternal grandfather, Murvin R. Auzenne Sr., who teaches social studies at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory school in west Houston, said family members are trying to help his son begin to cope with the loss.

“As you might imagine, he is devastated and we are trying to help him come to terms with it all,” Auzenne Sr. said.

Several friends of the children’s mother expressed shock and disbelief at the notion that Ashley, who they believed was a devoted mother and vocal gun opponent, would do anything to harm her children.

A school principal notified parents Tuesday afternoon that one of the victims was a Bonnette Junior High student and the two younger children attended Deer Park Elementary.

A family member requested a welfare check before 9 a.m. Tuesday, saying it had been a few days since relatives had heard from Ashley.

Reporter Julian Gill contributed to this story.

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