The sole surviving son of a marine veteran who carried out a murder-suicide told The Post his dad had struggled with mental health but “was adamant about controlling it himself.”
Stuart Rouse, 64, killed his wife Christina, 63, and their two adult children Kristina, 33, and Melissa, 19, as well as his brother Ronald, 57, at their Vancouver, Washington, home on Sunday.
Police have said Rouse then turned the gun on himself in the bathroom.
“Our father was a very patriotic man that proudly served his country,” Rouse’s sole surviving son, Kristoffer Rouse, and his wife Anne Aquino said in a text message to The Post.
“He was a caring father and protective of his wife and children.
“He suffered from undiagnosed PTSD, anxiety and depression. He was a proud man and very loving.”
According to Kristoffer, his father served roughly 20 years in the Marines, and struggled with mental health issues related to that.
“Mental health was a huge factor,” he told The Post.
“Everyone was trying to get him help but he was adamant about controlling it himself and he had horrible insomnia.”
Rouse did not have a criminal history prior to the shooting, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
A neighbor, who described the family as “typical,” said they heard screaming coming from the house and then gunshots.
Kristoffer and Anne described Cristina, Melissa and Kristina as “the kindest, most helpful, generous, sweetest human beings — not to mention intelligent. They cared about helping other people the most,” according to The Columbian.
Police arrived at the house around 1 p.m. after a relative called police hours after receiving an odd text message from Rouse, who allegedly had written he had “harmed others,” according to Clark County Sheriff Sgt. Chris Skidmore.
Unfortunately, the relative did not see the text message for another four hours, and when he failed to reach his family, the relative called emergency dispatch to conduct a welfare check at the home, authorities said.
Police believed the victims were dead by the time they arrived. The motive for the shooting is unknown.
The family was later identified by Anne in an online post.
“I don’t really know how to start this, but my husband’s dad, stepmom, 2 sisters, and uncle, tragically passed away the morning of Dec 3rd. We’re still in disbelief and our hearts are shattered,” Aquino wrote on a GoFundMe page.
Tributes poured in for the victims online as news of the tragedy spread.
“Kristina always lead with kindness and was so genuine. Her humor was subtle and smart and she excelled at making people feel comfortable,” Aisha Reuler wrote.
“Such a joyful, hard working, sweet person to know and work with. I will treasure the memory of our matching shirts. She will be greatly missed.”
Jaimee Wacker remembered Melissa, writing: “I knew Melissa in high school, she was so kind and sweet, I’m in shock how the world could take such a beautiful and smart person away.”
The family had previously suffered tragedy in 2021 when one of their sons, Brian, died at the age of 38. Posts on a memorial page indicated he had taken his own life.
