Mystery around Natalie Rupnow’s mother as questions remained unanswered

December 18, 2024 / Kevin harson /

What’s New

While Natalie Rupnow’s parents are cooperating with the police in the investigation into the fatal shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, little is known about the suspect’s mother, Mellissa Rupnow.

Newsweek reached out to the Madison police department via email on Wednesday for comment.

Why It Matters

Rupnow, a 15-year-old student at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, was identified as the perpetrator of the shooting on December 16, which left a teacher and student dead and six others injured. She died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

While authorities have pieced together a profile of Natalie’s upbringing, Mellissa Rupnow’s role in the teenager’s life and potential involvement in the events leading up to the shooting are unclear. Mellissa has not spoken out after the shooting, and her social media profiles are private.

A police officer stands outside Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on December 16, after a shooting. Little is known about the shooter’s mother at this time.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

What To Know

As reported by Newsweek, the last photo posted on Natalie’s father, Jeff Rupnow’s Facebook page, was of his daughter at a shooting range. In the photo’s comments section, he said, “We joined NBSC this spring and we have been loving all every second of it!”

In other pictures, Natalie was wearing a T-shirt from the band KMFDM. Lyrics to KMFDM songs “Son of a Gun,” “Stray Bullet,” and “Waste” had been posted on the website of Eric Harris, one of the shooters in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

Jeff Rupnow’s social media said he was single, and his Facebook page was filled with photos of his daughter and his dogs.

Mellissa Rupnow’s page, which has since been deleted or set to private, showed less information, containing a profile picture and a photo of a trip to Florida.

A Pinterest account believed to belong to Mellissa has a profile picture of a woman poking her tongue out next to a small child that looks similar to toddler pictures posted of Natalie by her father online.

Underneath the profile picture is a quote: “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.~ Denis Waitley.”

The account has 90 followers and is following 210 accounts, including Kim Kardashian.

The account, currently public, does not seem to have been updated in several years, with posts and pins ranging from 8 to 12 years ago. One pin created 12 years ago is titled “Ideas for Natalie’s room” and has pictures of pink bedroom decor and Disney-inspired themes.

As Newsweek reported, Jeff and Mellissa filed for divorce several times and switched custody, last adjusting their custody agreement in 2022.

Rupnow was placed in the primary care of her mother following her parents’ divorce in 2014. A court document signed by the parents in March of that year stated that they would have joint legal custody of Natalie, but her primary physical placement would be with her mother.

Mellissa and Jeffrey got remarried in 2017, according to an order of support. The document asks the court to set child support to zero and adjust the custody of Natalie to equal shared placement.

The couple filed for divorce again in 2021. At the time, the parents agreed to shared placement of Natalie. In 2022, her father earned primary placement.

What People Are Saying

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes: “The parents are fully cooperating, we have no reason to believe that they have committed a crime at this time.”

The University of Wisconsin police department told Newsweek on Wednesday via email: “Madison Police Communications staff are very overwhelmed right now, and it is our understanding that they are not releasing any information about victims, names, ages, parents, etc. at this time.

“When they are ready to release more information they will through media sources, is what we have been informed of.”