A house fire that killed a mom and her four kids is believed to be a murder-suicide, according to police. On Monday, February 19, 2024, Bernadine "Birdie" Pruessner, 39, and her four children — Ivy Pruessner, 9; Ellie Pruessner, 9; Jackson Spader, 6; and Millie Spader, 2 — died in a house fire near St. Louis, Missouri. The St. Louis County Police Department said on February 21 that it is believed that the mom started a fire on purpose, the Kansas City Star reported.
“It is believed that Bernadine Pruessner intentionally set a mattress on fire as that was the point of origin for the fire,” police said.
Police also stated that Bernadine Pruessner left a note in which she said she planned to "take her life and the lives of her children.” However, police did not share details about the note.
Loved ones and neighbors described Bernadine Pruessner as an "amazing" woman who loved animals and "was always looking out for the neighborhood," the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. She had a background in early childhood education.
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On February 19, the mom posted about her love for her kids on Facebook. "All my kids, peacefully sleeping in my bed. Curled up together. Knowing they are loved so fiercely that I’d do absolutely anything for them. This is my favorite moment," she wrote.
On February 18, she wrote, "Us against the world. I’m so blessed to be their mama. They have a heart for the lord and have overcome so much more in their little lives than they should have had to face."
On that same day, February 18, the mom of four wrote about "making today one of those live each day like it’s your last kind of days."
She described the different activities she and her kids had planned for the day: "Breakfast, reptile show, soccer game, and living room camp out on the agenda plus whatever other shenanigans bring us joy."
"Happy Sunday. Thank God the sun is shining," she continued in the post.
Following the news of the alleged murder-suicide, KSDK reported that Ferguson Councilwoman Linda Lipka said: "For somebody with that much outreach and that much connection with humanity all around her, to feel that alone we need to do better as a community and as a nation. Mental illness is something that is very, very vital to address."
Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle called the tragedy "a stark reminder of the unseen battles some of our neighbors are fighting and the critical need for empathy, compassion, and support from all of us."
The Kansas City Star reported that Bernadine Pruessner was in the middle of custody battles at the time of her death. Her ex-husband, David Pruessner, was the father of Ivy and Ellie, according to the New York Post. Her ex-boyfriend, Jared Spader, was the father of Jackson and Millie, the outlet reported.
Her attorney, Nathan Cohen, told KTVI that she was dealing with "probably one of the ugliest custody scenarios."
“We wish that Birdie would have reached out and received help,” Cohen said in a statement shared on behalf of her family, as per KSDK. "We hope that Birdie's untimely death can be a reminder that even the strongest of us can use help in moments of crisis. We hope that even those who think they have it handled understand that they are not immune from suffering and doubt."
