Mass Shooter Parents at the Mercy of Selective Prosecution

May 18 2025

Another parent of a school shooter was hauled into court and charged with murderous violence caused by his 15-year-old daughter, Natalie Rupnow. The question that nobody seems to want to ask is why school shooter cases are becoming selective prosecution, especially in light of law enforcement’s refusal to consider the shooter’s “treatment” and psychiatric medications.

Jeffrey Rupnow is charged with giving a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 causing death. Rupnow’s daughter, Natalie, killed a student and teacher at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin in December of 2024 before taking her own life.

Natalie was the child of divorce, was not handling the separation well, began cutting herself and threatening to kill herself. Natalie was subsequently enrolled in therapy in July of 2022. In an effort do an activity together just months prior to the shooting, Jeffrey Rupnow and his daughter joined a gun club with Natalie posting she “loved every second of it.”  Apparently because of Natalie’s positive interest in shooting, Jeffrey provided his daughter with the combination to his gun safe where Natalie’s firearms were kept.

While law enforcement in Madison seemed filled with delight at bringing these charges against Rupnow, one can only wonder if anyone is curious about what role Natalie’s “therapy” may have played. For instance, who was Natalie’s therapist and why hasn’t the public heard about Natalie’s “treatment” plan? Had Natalie been prescribed prescription psychiatric drugs? And, if so, what were they? Had Natalie been on a cocktail of drugs and for how long? Did the teenager experience any adverse effects from the drugs?

Further, did Natalie ever discuss violence with her therapist? Did the therapist believe that joining the gun club was a good or bad idea and was that sentiment shared with the father? It seems logical, and is known from other shooting incidents, that the therapist would have something to say about Natalie learning to use firearms. What was said? C’mon what drugs was Natalie on and what thoughts had Natalie shared with this therapist? If Rupnow’s attorneys don’t demand this information, they need to be disbarred. 

And given the pathetic past efforts taken on other law enforcement investigations, one can only wonder if the Madison police even bothered to gather this information from the therapist? Was Natalie’s therapist part of the State Behavioral Health system? In other words, is this another case of the state covering for the state? It wouldn’t be the first time for police to withhold this important mental health “treatment” information or who was providing that “help.”

Rupnow is the third parent in as many years to be charged in connection with their child’s murderous actions. Jennifer and James Crumbley were the first to be charged and convicted for their part in son Ethan’s attack that killed four at Oxford High School in 2021. Then there is the case of the July 4th killer, Robert Crimo, III., whose father, Robert Jr., was charged and sentenced for endorsing his son’s Illinois gun permit in 2019. 

It’s interesting, though, that Covenant School shooter, Audrey Hale’s parents have not been charged for their part in Audrey’s murderous school shooting spree. Not only did both parents know that Audrey had guns in their home, but the father thought learning to shoot was a good idea for Audrey. This, despite Audrey’s parents being fully aware that their daughter had been under mental health intervention and drugged for twenty years. Considering what others are being charged with, it sounds like Hale’s parents could be complicit in their daughter’s attack. But nobody in the Nashville law enforcement arena seem to care, adding to what many now believe is selective prosecution among shooting incidents.

The most recent shooting at Florida State University where twenty-year old Phoenix Ikner killed two and wounded six others after stealing from the family home a 12-gauge shotgun and a .45 pistol (from his Sheriff’s Deputy stepmother). Given that the weapon used in the attack was not secure in the family home, will prosecutors bring charges against one of their own? Given the stepmother’s association with law enforcement, it seems we’re looking at another case of selective prosecution. Just who gets prosecuted is just a crapshoot. 

Of interest is how the media reports that Ikner had “no history of mental health or behavioral referrals indicating him as a threat.” Okay. So Ikner never received a referral because he made threats. But had he received any mental health counseling or therapy including prescribed drugs? Of course there is no mention of this. Why? Why not just report that Ikner had no history of mental health assistance and had never been prescribed psychiatric drugs. Why add the caveat “for making threats.” It just reeks of withholding information.

More importantly, why are the mental health records and names of therapists and psychiatrists of the shooters withheld? It is these records that will tell the story of what happened and why. And, of course, it’s easier to blame the guns and now, apparently, the parents. But what about the smartest guys in the room…the mental health experts? Why are these experts exempt from consideration? Literally millions of people are sent to these experts for help and, yet, when the “treatment” fails, the experts become mute. 

Hale’s therapists knew she was suicidal and thinking about killing people. Did the therapist advise law enforcement about Hale? No. And, still, Hale’s complete mental health record has not seen the light of day and none of her many mental health specialists have had anything to say. Quiet as church mice. Why? Certainly, those specialists… those experts… could provide information that would provide a clear picture of Hale’s mental status leading up to the shooting. The same can be said of Rupnow’s daughter Natalie.

Why have Natalie’s therapists not been questioned about her murderous behavior? Afterall, Natalie was sent to therapy because the powers that be thought therapy could help her. Apparently, the therapy not only didn’t help, but actually failed Natalie. What went wrong? Natalie didn’t kill anyone before she got mental health “treatment.”  What was Natalie’s “treatment” plan and drug regimen?  Without this information, it seems wrong or premature to charge anyone in this crime, least of all the father. 

What if the therapist put Natalie on a cocktail of mind-altering drugs? Each of the psychiatric drugs carry serious adverse reactions, including suicidality, abnormal/violent behavior, psychosis, mania and hallucinations to name a few. What is the responsibility of the therapist who prescribes these potential weapons of destruction? 

When will law enforcement and state prosecutors learn that blaming guns and parents for these deadly attacks won’t get us any closer to stopping them. Ignoring the mental health/psychiatric drug history of the shooters and covering for failed mental health “treatment,” brings nothing to the table to end these murderous actions. Selective prosecution of the shooter’s parents is a slippery slope. How will a Deputy Sheriff be judged compared to the other parents now behind bars?  

What you can do.  Sign the Petition calling for federal hearings!

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