The documents provide insight into the life of 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who authorities say fatally shot two people, injured six others, and then took her own life.
Written by Chloe Atkins, Selina Guevara, and Daniella Silva
MADISON, Wis. Court documents obtained by NBC News reveal that the 15-year-old girl accused of fatally shooting two people and injuring several others at a private Christian school in Wisconsin experienced a turbulent home life.killed two people and wounded multiple others Her upbringing was shaped by divorces, custody disputes, and court-ordered mediation sessions aimed at resolving conflicts over her care.
Natalie Rupnow’s parents, Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow, were married and divorced twice, during which Natalie frequently moved between their homes and participated in therapy sessions.
Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow first married in 2011 and divorced in 2014, according to court records. They initially agreed to joint custody of their daughter, Natalie Rupnow, with primary residence being with her mother.
In 2017, the couple remarried, only to file for divorce again in 2020. This time, court documents show they agreed to share custody equally, with Natalie spending time with both parents. Their second divorce was finalized in 2021, according to a divorce certificate obtained by NBC News.
On Monday, Natalie Rupnow, who also went by Samantha, opened fire during a study hall session at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, killing a teacher and a student, and injuring six others before dying from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police reported. The victims were identified as 42-year-old Erin M. West and 14-year-old Rubi P. Vergara.
Two of the injured students remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, while the other four have been discharged, police said.
Earlier this week, the FBI detained 20-year-old Alexander Paffendorf in California and temporarily confiscated his firearms. Authorities allege that Paffendorf had communicated with Natalie Rupnow, discussing plans to use explosives and target a government building. Investigators uncovered messages between the two but have not released details about their alleged plans.
Efforts to reach Paffendorf and his family for comment were unsuccessful.
Court records detailing the apparent turmoil in Natalie Rupnow’s family life provide a glimpse into the events that may have influenced her trajectory leading up to Monday’s tragedy.
In 2022, Mellissa and Jeff Rupnow entered mediation over custody issues concerning Natalie. In May of that year, Dane County Family Court Services required the parents to participate in a “mandatory parent education program via Zoom” due to disagreements over custody and physical placement. However, court documents show that Mellissa Rupnow missed her scheduled sessions on June 2 and June 16, 2022. This led to the couple being required to attend an in-person mediation session.
By July 2022, the parents had reached an agreement granting them joint legal custody of Natalie, with her primary residence being with her father. The agreement also included a provision to consider recommendations from Natalie’s therapist regarding her weekend placements, according to court documents.
According to court documents, Natalie Rupnow’s mother agreed to engage with her therapist and participate in therapy as recommended, while her father committed to making every effort to schedule therapy sessions that accommodated her mother’s availability.
The documents also noted that “the parents report a generally positive co-parenting relationship and will continue to communicate with one another by text messages and phone conversations.”
Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow did not respond to multiple requests for comment. However, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes stated that the parents are “fully cooperating” with investigators. Authorities are still working to determine a motive for the tragedy and have not released additional details about Natalie’s actions.
“Identifying a motive is our top priority. At this time, it appears the motive was a combination of factors,” Barnes said during a news conference.
Trish Kilpin, director of Wisconsin’s Office of School Safety, emphasized on Monday that “targeted violence is preventable.”
“When someone resorts to violence, it’s often to address an upset or grievance, and they progress down a pathway toward that violence,” Kilpin explained. “In doing so, they often study past school shooting incidents.”
A neighbor of Jeff Rupnow, who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity, expressed shock at the incident, describing Jeff as a “kind person.”
“He really helped us out,” the neighbor said. “I know we’re still trying to piece everything together.”
The neighbor admitted to not knowing Natalie personally but described the situation as “horrifying for everyone, especially the families of the school and those children.”