Mother, 36, steps into the path of a train and pulls her 8-year-old son with her in horrific murder-suicide

  • The deaths of 36-year-old Teresa Catherine Gerleman and her eight-year-old son Henry Fields in Iowa have been ruled a murder-suicide, investigators said 
  • The train was operated by Union Pacific Railroad and was travelling from Chicago, Illinois to Nebraska when it struck the woman and child on May 4
  • The investigators found that Gerleman crossed the tracks, stepped back into the train's path and then pulled her son onto the tracks with her before they were hit
  • Investigators reviewed evidence from Gerleman's home, watched video from the train and interviewed witnesses before coming to their determination

The deaths of a 36-year-old woman who pulled her eight-year-old son into the path of a train have been ruled a murder-suicide, investigators have said.

Evidence released on Tuesday shows that Teresa Catherine Gerleman waited for a train operated by Union Pacific Railroad to approach before crossing its tracks with her child, Henry Fields.

After making it to the other side before the train crossed their path, Gerleman stepped back into the center of the tracks, KCRG reported.

The murder-suicide was perpetrated on May 4. 

The deaths of 36-year-old Teresa Catherine Gerleman and her eight-year-old son Henry Fields (pictured) in Iowa have been ruled a murder-suicide, investigators said

The deaths of 36-year-old Teresa Catherine Gerleman and her eight-year-old son Henry Fields (pictured) in Iowa have been ruled a murder-suicide, investigators said

The investigators with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation found that just before the train collided with Gerleman, she pulled her son onto the tracks with her.

The investigation included analysis of the scene of the crime, as well as information collected from the woman's home.

Union Pacific employees were interviewed, and video footage that was captured from the train was also reviewed before the final determination was made.

The mother stepped into the tracks at the 9th Avenue railroad crossing in Belle Plaine

The mother stepped into the tracks at the 9th Avenue railroad crossing in Belle Plaine

The mother stepped into the tracks at the 9th Avenue railroad crossing in Belle Plaine, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.  

'Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the deceased,' Union Pacific said in a statement released to NBC's KWWL.

The locomotive engineer and the conductor on board the train were immediately put in touch with counselors, the railroad company said.

The train was travelling from Chicago, Illinois to Nebraska when it passed through Belle Plaine at the spot where the mother took her own life, as well as the life of her son. 

  • For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255. 
The train was travelling from Chicago, Illinois to Nebraska when it passed through Belle Plaine at the spot where the mother took her own life, as well as the life of her son

The train was travelling from Chicago, Illinois to Nebraska when it passed through Belle Plaine at the spot where the mother took her own life, as well as the life of her son

 

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