Highland City, Florida – A Florida family is mourning the loss of Crystal Roure, a devoted single mother who was killed inside her home just days before Christmas after an argument with her husband escalated into deadly violence. Authorities say Roure was shot and killed by her husband, Jason Kenney, who also shot her 13-year-old daughter before taking his own life. The case was first reported in detail by USA TODAY.
A Mother Known for Protecting Her Children
Family members describe Crystal Roure as fiercely protective, especially as a single mother. According to her sister, Stephanie Roure, Crystal was cautious when she began dating Kenney, waiting an entire year before introducing him to her children.
“She took her time,” Stephanie said. “She trusted him and fell in love with him. She thought she had finally found her happy ever after.”
That sense of security shattered on December 22, just two years after the couple married.
What Happened Inside the Home
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the violence followed an argument over watching a football game late at night. Sheriff Grady Judd said Kenney had been drinking alone in a shed before entering the home shortly before 11 p.m.
The dispute quickly escalated. Roure told her 12-year-old son to flee to a neighbor’s house and call 911. As the boy ran, he heard the first gunshot.
Deputies arriving at the scene found Crystal Roure dead. Her 13-year-old daughter had been shot in the face and shoulder but survived. The couple’s 1-year-old child was not harmed.
“The 13-year-old girl begged not to be shot,” Judd said. “And he shot her twice.”
A Life Defined by Hard Work and Motherhood
Crystal Roure was described as driven from a young age. She excelled in school and quickly advanced in her first job at T.G.I. Friday’s as a teenager.
“She didn’t work just for a paycheck,” Stephanie said. “She worked for experience, knowledge, and to prove she could do things and not give up.”
Becoming a mother at 25 reshaped her life entirely. She worked full time, never missed school events, and eventually bought a home on her own. Family members say her children always came first.
Changes After the Marriage
Photos from early in Crystal and Kenney’s relationship showed a seemingly happy family. But after their November 2023 wedding, her sister noticed something change.
“My sister lost that glow,” Stephanie said.
At first, the change was attributed to pregnancy and exhaustion. Later, investigators would learn troubling details that had never resulted in official police reports.
Evidence Found After the Shooting
Deputies discovered a handwritten letter from Crystal addressed to Kenney. In it, she warned him about drinking and cocaine use and urged him to return to God.
After the shooting, Kenney fled to his late father’s property, called his sister to say he had done “something very, very bad,” and then fatally shot himself when deputies closed in.
Sheriff Judd said a relative later told investigators Kenney had been abusive “for a while,” though no prior domestic violence calls or charges were on record.
A Community Left in Shock
The crime occurred with a decorated Christmas tree and wrapped gifts still under it, a detail Judd said underscored the devastation.
“He absolutely destroyed a family,” the sheriff said.
Crystal Roure’s family says her final actions saved her children’s lives, even as her own was taken. Her story has since become a painful reminder of how quickly domestic violence can turn deadly, even in homes that appear outwardly happy.
