A high school secretary and mother of two from Indiana who survived cancer and publicly credited her husband for helping her get through it — saying, “never once did I feel less loved” — was killed by him last week in a murder-suicide that also seriously injured their daughter, according to police.
Brandy Manville, 46, was fatally shot by her husband Charles Manville on Friday night at their home in Portage, roughly 40 miles southwest of Chicago, according to local police. He also allegedly fired fire on a third victim, the couple’s 21-year-old daughter, Hayleigh Manville, injuring her gravely. Officers discovered the trio while responding to a domestic disturbance call.
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According to a news release from the Portage Police Department, Manville’s daughter contacted 911 that night to report that their father was “intoxicated and throwing items inside the house.” The young woman informed police that Charles Manville took a gun and threatened her and Brandy Manville with it.
According to authorities, operators heard the male saying that everyone was going to die, followed by the sound of gunfire. “Just as officers were arriving on scene and were approaching the residence, they too heard gunfire from inside.”
Officers from numerous responding police agencies forced their way into the residence and discovered Charles Manville dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. Brandy Manville also died from gunshot wounds. Their daughter had been shot several times but was recovered alive. First responders rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she remains.
“The surviving victim has not been able to provide a statement to investigators, and the motive for this shooting remains unknown,” Portage police said in a release on Nov. 30. “We discovered that Brandy Manville was an administrative assistant who worked in the main office at Portage High School. The administration of Portage Township School will make counselling services available to P.H.S. students and staff on Monday morning.
Family and school authorities have referred to Brandy Manville as “the heartbeat” of Portage High School. She frequently shared images of her children, dogs, and husband on social media, representing herself on Facebook as a “mom of two” and “cancer survivor” who had a Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma diagnosis.
“I remember sitting in shock,” Brandy Manville told Portage.Life in 2019 about her diagnosis at the age of 37. “I thought of my two children and my husband. “When you hear the word ‘cancer,’ you think it means death.”
According to Portage, Brandy Manville commended her husband for being there for her “during her darkest moments.” Life, despite having undergone a bilateral lumpectomy and 16 “gruelling rounds” of chemotherapy.
“As a woman, it’s hard to lose your hair,” Brandy Manville remarked. “I never once felt less loved. My family was amazing during my cancer journey. “I was fortunate to have them as a support system.”
One of Manville’s friends set up a GoFundMe page to gather money for her two children, Hayleigh and Ethan, describing her as “the absolute best mother in the world” to them. It is unclear how old Ethan is or who he will be staying with right now. Police say the youngster was with family at the time of the incident.
“Unfortunately, Brandy was taken from us way too soon in a senseless act of domestic violence that none of us will ever be able to comprehend or recover from,” the GoFundMe says. “Our hearts are broken, and we will always have a hole in our hearts. Now her daughter faces the fight of her life.”
According to the GoFundMe, Hayleigh Manville was “struck three times” by gunfire and is currently in the ICU in “critical but stable condition.” The fundraiser’s description says things will be harder than ever for the Manville kids now on account of Brandy Manville being so heavily involved in their lives.
“It is so hard because Brandy was always on top of everything and never asked for any help,” the GoFundMe says.
Coworkers have told local media outlets that they are in shock over the Manville shooting and “dreading” to go to school on Monday without her.
“It’s completely unbelievable,” longtime friend and special education teacher Beth Johnson told the Chicago-Tribune . “It’s going to be bad because she was everyone’s mom, adults and children,” Johnson said. “I know she’s gone but I can’t imagine walking by that office and not seeing her.”