Arkansas murder-suicide: MOM, 31, killed her three daughters, aged 7, 10, and 12, and her own mother, 61, before turning the gun on herself on Christmas Day

A woman shot her mother and her three children before turning the gun on herself in their Arkansas home on Christmas day, police reveal. 

Jaquita Chase, 31, shot her her mother Patricia Patrick, 61, and her three children: Abigail Heflin, 12; Levenah Countryman, 10; and Danielle Collins, seven. 

On Monday police said they found the five people dead in the Atkins home and suspected it was a murder-suicide, but did not know who committed the killings. 

However, a motive behind the slayings has not been determined. 

'Even though the investigation is still ongoing, at this point in the investigation, we are confident in the fact that we believe Jaquita Chase to be the perpetrator in this incident,' Pope County Sheriff's Sgt. Rodney McNeese said to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. 

Officials said Jaquita Chase, 31, (top right) shot her mother Patricia Patrick, 61, and her three daughters Danielle Collins, 7 ; Levenah Countryman , 10; and Abigail Heflin (top left), 12, then turned the gun on herself on Christmas Day

Chase also shot her mother Patricia Patrick , 61. Chase with her kids right

He confirmed a shooting took place but did not say what caliber weapon was used. 

Police were called after a family member discovered the bodies around 5pm Friday. 

According to an obituary posted on the Russellville Family Funeral Home website, Jaquita Chase was born on December 11, 1989 to Robert Patrick and Patricia Heflin Patrick. 

The obituary also says she was preceded in death by her mother and three daughters. 

Dustan Countryman, the father of 10-year-old Levenah Countryman, shared a heartbroken tribute on Facebook saying: 'Thank you everyone for the kind words. I’ve received hundreds of messages. She and her family would be happy to know so many people care.'

'My daughter was my world. I wish I didn’t work so much that I could have been with her more. But when I didn’t work it was always the park, swimming, laying around cuddled watching tv or TikTok, playing Minecraft or just goofing around. She was a fantastic soul that didn’t deserve any of this. I wish it were me instead,' he added.

Pictured left to right: Abigail Heflin, 12; Levenah Countryman, 10; and Danielle Collins, seven

All five of the victims were found dead inside the home in Atkins

Dustan Countryman, the father of 10-year-old Levenah Countryman, shared a heartbroken tribute on Facebook saying: 'She was a fantastic soul that didn’t deserve any of this. I wish it were me instead'

Chase has been arrested several times, however none of those incidents involved weapons or violence.

She was arrested for shoplifting at a Walmart store in Conway in 2017 and charged with theft and drug possession, but the drug charges were later dropped. 

She pleaded guilty to the theft charge and was sentenced to two years probation. 

In 2018 she was arrested after attempting to get into a car in Dover.

When the vehicle’s owner confronted her she fled in a 2017 Dodge Journey that had been reported one day prior.

Deputies from the Pope County Sheriff's Office received a call at 5:15pm on December 25 to reports of suspicious activity inside the home

She was taken to Pope County Jail and signed the booking documents and a fingerprint card as ‘Amanda Waters’, the name of the person who actually owned the Dodge Journey.

She pleaded guilty to charges of criminal mischief, forgery and theft by receiving and sentenced to five years probation.

In July 2018 when Dustan Countryman went to court seeking custody of Levenah, he cited Chase’s drug use.

In October 2018 a judge cited Chase’s failure to show up for a drug test and said Countryman was the 'fit and proper parent to have custody of the minor child subject to the reasonable visitation of the defendant.'

Chase's mother Patricia Patrick then intervened and said she had been appointed as Levenah's guardian on July 12, 2018. 

That same order gave her permanent guardianship over Levenah and her sisers Abigail and Danielle. 

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral costs for the Heflin/Patrick family

At the time Judge Gordon McCain said: 'The court finds that respondent Jaquita Chase is currently an unfit parent based upon the following: Her positive drug test for methamphetamine and prescription drugs, the fact that she does not have a residence, the fact that she does not have employment and her continued criminal activity.' 

However, custody of Levenah was later given to her father. 

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral costs for the Heflin/Patrick family.

'On Christmas day, we received unimaginable news,' a post on the fundraiser authored by Brown read. '5 of our precious relatives were found deceased in their home. 

'A grandmother, mother, and 3 children, all taken from us. At the moment there are no details to share. It's being investigated as a murder. We haven't made arrangements yet. We can't fathom the pain or the cost of laying 5 of us to rest at once. We are devastated!'  

A separate fundraiser has also been set up for the parents Levenah Countryman.