St. Augustine, Florida – The quiet neighborhood of St. Augustine, Florida was left in shock after the discovery of a murder-suicide involving a prominent firefighter and his wife. Shawn Yarbrough, 46, took the lives of his wife, Andrea Nicole Yarbrough, 34, before turning the gun on himself. The pair were found dead in their bathroom, leaving behind their four young children.
The tragic incident came just days after Andrea shared a Facebook post, expressing the toll her husband’s demanding work schedule had taken on their family. She highlighted the high number of emergency callouts experienced by the St. Johns County Fire Rescue, where Shawn had worked as a lieutenant for two decades.
Authorities were alerted to the situation when Andrea’s mother requested a welfare check after being unable to reach her daughter. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office determined that Shawn’s death was a suicide, while Andrea’s death appeared to be a homicide. Their children, fortunately, were not present during the shooting.
The couple, who had recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary, seemed to have a happy and active family life, as portrayed on their social media pages. They frequently embarked on family vacations and attended their children’s baseball games. Neighbors described them as a “typical nice family” and were unaware of any underlying issues.
The fire department’s chief, Sean McGee, expressed the department’s deep sadness over the tragedy. The shocking event has sparked discussions about the mental health challenges faced by first responders. According to the Ruderman Family Foundation, more first responders die by suicide each year than in the line of duty.
A GoFundMe page has been created to support Andrea’s 11-year-old daughter, Lily, who is currently staying with her grandparents. The family is uncertain about any potential life insurance or benefits available to her.
As the St. Augustine community mourns the loss of the Yarbroughs, authorities continue to investigate the factors that led to this devastating incident.