Before Rutherford County Murder-Suicide, An Eerie Text

WALTER HILL, TN -- The man who killed his wife, her father and step-mother before killing himself Memorial Day asked for forgiveness via text message, a pastor told WKRN.

Pastor Corey Trimble told the station that Sean and Cassidy Ganey had been having marital problems and come to him for help. He said earlier Monday, he'd told Cassidy Ganey to go somewhere safe with her daughter. Authorities say Monday afternoon Sean Ganey shot and killed Cassidy along with her father and step-mother Kenny Adair and Shelly Larenz-Adair before killing himself.

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"I beat myself up pretty bad for a brief moment wondering if I could've stopped it," Trimble told the station. "I had actually, the last thing I sent to Sean was I said, 'Hey, you know it's Memorial Day, I'm with my family.' I said, 'Why don't we get together tomorrow or the next day and just talk?'"

At 2 p.m., about 90 minutes before gunfire was reported at the Ganey home, Trimble said he received text messages from Sean saying "'I'm sorry" and "Pastor, please forgive me."

A GoFundMe has been launched to raise money for Cassidy Ganey's daughter.

Image via Rutherford County Sheriff's Department