Murder-suicide took place four days before custody hearing

A murder-suicide of a father and his two children in a trailer just south of Carthage appears to have taken place four days before a hearing for a change in the children's custody was scheduled to take place.

Online Jasper County Circuit Court records indicate that Tony Kernel, 55, was served with an amended parenting order and Form 14 child support papers on January 6. A hearing on the mother, Brandy L. Corum's request was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday before Judge Stephen Carlton in Jasper County Circuit Court in Carthage.

Jasper County Sheriff's Office investigators believe Kernel shot his nine-year-old son Wesley and his seven-year-old daughter Timber to death Friday evening before turning the gun on himself. Investigators discovered the bodies shortly before 11 a.m. today.

The online records also show that Judge Carlton issued a full order of protection against Kernel on March 12, 2014, though the records do not show who asked for the order. Eight days later, that person asked for Carlton to dismiss the order, which he did.