Caldwell, ID — A 51-year-old father has admitted to fatally shooting his 18-year-old daughter, authorities say, after being arrested Monday in Mountain Home, Idaho. The case has left the community in shock as investigators and family members grapple with the tragedy.
Victim Identified as Onyx Cornish
According to a Idaho Statesman report, the victim has been identified as Onyx Cornish, an 18-year-old resident of Caldwell. She was found in her bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head after her father, Delbert Cornish, allegedly carried out the act.
Cornish fled from his brother’s home in downtown Caldwell, where he lived with his daughter and one of his sons. Officers later located and arrested him in Mountain Home, just before 7 p.m., after which he admitted to murdering his daughter during an interview at the police station.
“I’m not gonna lie, I did it, dude,” Cornish told Detective Taylor O’Neil without being questioned, according to the affidavit obtained by the Statesman.
Charges Filed and Legal Proceedings
Cornish has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and an enhancement for use of a deadly weapon during a felony, according to the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office. He is being held without bond at the Canyon County Jail, and if convicted of first-degree murder, he could face life in prison or the death penalty. His next court hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on September 3 at the Canyon County Courthouse.
Disturbing Account of Events
The affidavit details the events leading to the shooting. When Cornish’s 15-year-old son returned home from school, Cornish admitted to killing his sister and tried to compel the boy to view Onyx’s body. The teen refused and fled the home after a struggle with his father over a handgun, ultimately calling 911.
Officers from the Caldwell Police Department responded to the home on Blaine Street, but Cornish had already left in a Dodge Challenger to Mountain Home. He was arrested shortly thereafter.
“Both of my kids would be dead, and I’d be dead,” Cornish reportedly told police during his interview, describing his intentions before the crime.
Father’s State of Mind and Motive
Cornish reportedly suffered from depression and alcoholism, and told investigators he had purchased a black 9 mm Hi-Point handgun the previous year. He admitted he initially planned to commit suicide, but decided to also kill his children. Cornish described his actions as a “fit of rage” and confessed to shooting Onyx after she startled him while he was outside her bedroom.
“For the next 20 minutes, I watched her gasp for breath,” Cornish said during the interview. “I’m a piece of s**t, man. I’m not going to lie, I did it.”
Following the shooting, Cornish destroyed parts of the home, including punching walls and swinging a hatchet into his daughter’s bedroom door, according to the affidavit. He also left suicide notes and attempted to apologize to his surviving son.
Remembering Onyx Cornish
Onyx was described by family and friends as strong-headed and outspoken, with a passion for heavy metal music. Her mother, Crystal Thompson, shared that Onyx had been sober for over a year and had recently begun a relationship that brought out the best in her.
“I just wonder how long he knew he was going to do that. I don’t know, why? Why? She was just a kid,” Thompson said.
The tragic incident has sparked grief and confusion among her family, friends, and the Caldwell community as they try to make sense of the loss.
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