Mother of Wisconsin School Shooter Dies by Apparent Suicide

Mellissa Rupnow, the mother of Natalie Rupnow who killed two people and herself in a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, has died by apparent suicide. Natalie Rupnow, 15, opened fire in December 2024, killing a student and a teacher and injuring six others before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot. Mellissa and her ex-husband Jeffrey Rupnow, who had a tumultuous relationship involving multiple divorces and custody changes, both cooperated with the investigation. Jeffrey Rupnow faces felony charges for providing Natalie access to the firearms used in the shooting, reportedly as a misguided attempt to connect with her amid her struggles coping with their divorce and diagnosed PTSD. Natalie had also been involved in online extremist communities, communicating about mass shootings. Authorities continue to investigate Mellissa's death, which was discovered in Janesville, Wisconsin, on August 1, 2025.