Idaho – In a horrifying case of calculated family violence out of Idaho, a 51-year-old father, identified as Delbert C., is now facing expanded charges after the brutal killing of his 18-year-old adopted daughter, identified as Hope C., and an attempted attack on his teenage son. What began as a first-degree murder and aggravated assault case has now deepened, with prosecutors upgrading the assault charge to assault with intent to commit murder and adding a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty for the killing of the family cat. Delbert is also charged with possession of a deadly weapon.
The charges stem from an August 18th incident where authorities say Delbert enacted a long-planned murder-suicide that only partially unfolded due to his teenage son’s resistance. Police and court documents detail a chilling chain of events inside their home—a place where the children lived with Delbert and his brother, and where years of emotional weight and untreated mental illness appeared to boil over in the most violent way.
According to law enforcement, Delbert had been harboring a deadly plan for nearly a year, ever since he bought a handgun in late 2024. His stated intent was to kill all three of his children—Hope, a teenage son, and an older adult son currently incarcerated—and then take his own life. On the morning of August 18, after consuming alcohol, Delbert allegedly walked into Hope’s bedroom and shot her in the head. He then kissed her cheek and, believing no one would care for her beloved cat, shot the animal as well. He placed a large flag over her body, telling investigators it was his way of honoring her—something she had deeply cared about.
Delbert stayed in the house for hours. When his youngest son, believed to be 14 or 15, came home after school, the man initially greeted him calmly. But the mood quickly shifted. He told the teen, “he had killed his sister,” and tried to convince him to go see her body. When the boy refused, Delbert picked up the gun again, blocked the doorway, and pointed it at his son’s chest. A struggle followed. The teen fought back, wrestled the weapon from his father’s hands, and fled the house to call 911. Responding officers arrived at the home shortly after 4 p.m. and discovered a grim scene. Hope’s lifeless body and her cat were both found inside. A large note had been scrawled across the wall in bold, painful confessions: “I’m a man of my word my kids died by my hand. I’m tired of them being made fun of,” and “I’m going! My kids are going with me.”
Investigators recovered the gun, a detached magazine, and other physical evidence. Meanwhile, using license plate readers, police tracked Delbert to a location nearly 70 miles away at his ex-girlfriend’s home. He was arrested without incident. While being processed for gunshot residue, Delbert made a chilling confession to the officer present: “I’m not gonna lie, I did it dude.” He then asked if they had found his daughter’s body. When told yes, he began to cry. Later, he shared that he had used his right hand to fire the weapon and admitted that after his son escaped, he tried to shoot himself—but the gun misfired.
During interviews with detectives, Delbert revealed a complex and disturbing motive. He described himself as an alcoholic who struggled with depression and said he was tired of being “belittled” by his brother, who lived in the home and allegedly bullied both him and his children. He claimed the emotional toll was too much and that he feared no one, especially his brother, would care for his children after he was gone. He believed his children would be “better off dead.” Delbert also acknowledged that his original plan included killing his adult son, but said that part of the plan was “thwarted” when the son was sent back to prison earlier this year. As for his surviving son, Delbert told police he couldn’t bring himself to pull the trigger, even though he pointed the gun at him. He later said, “he didn’t want to shoot his son.”
A GoFundMe page created in the aftermath, seemingly by the children’s mother, delivers a blunt truth: “Hope was killed [by] her father.” It highlights the enduring emotional trauma left behind—especially for L.C., the teenage son who survived the attack and witnessed the immediate aftermath. The fundraiser also shares that Hope had been particularly protective of her younger brother, who has autism. “The road ahead is going to be a lengthy one, and L.C. is carrying so much weight on his heart and shoulders,” the page reads. The family has asked for support as they begin what will likely be a long and painful recovery. Delbert is currently being held without bond. His arraignment hearing is scheduled for October 14. The legal process continues, but the emotional and psychological wounds inflicted on this family will not be easily healed.
