PORT ORANGE, Fla. — Documents indicate that in the months before a Port Orange man shot his three children, killing two of them, his wife's drinking seemed to be tearing the family apart.
The documents released Tuesday by state child welfare officials said Cynthia Mohney was stumbling drunk at times, repeatedly slapped the children and that the kids were increasingly afraid of her.
PDF: Read the DCF report
An incident at a restaurant in April stated that Cynthia Mohney was drunk and struck her son, who was arguing with one of his sisters, the report states.
That investigation was later closed, however, after the Department of Children and Families found no bruises or suspicious marks on any the kids. The investigator also concluded it didn’t rise to the level of child abuse.
The report shows the mother of three admitted to hitting the kids but not inappropriately.
Two of the children also told investigators they felt safer with their father.
According to the documents, it was Cynthia Mohney's behavior that brought child protective investigators to the home in June. At that time, they recommended 48-year-old Cynthia Mohney seek substance abuse treatment.
The DCF report noted Cynthia Mohney agreed to substance abuse counseling.
The report went on to say David Mohney Sr. was unemployed and that his wife sacrificed her relationship with the children in order to support the family.
Authorities said that the couple was in the midst of a bitter divorce when David Mohney reached for a gun during an argument with his wife last week and shot their children, before killing himself.
Savanna Mohney, 14, and David Mohney Jr., 11, were pronounced dead at the scene, as was David Mohney.
Investigators said the only surviving child, 9-year-old Lauren Mohney, remains in stable condition at Arnold Palmer Hospital, where she is in a medically induced coma to try to stop the swelling in her brain.
A phone message left for Cynthia Mohney's attorney, Zachary Stombos, was not immediately returned Tuesday.
WFTV
