‘Hero’s’ foster mother and two adopted children stabbed and killed, suspect later dies

A Cincinnati foster mother known for her advocacy work was murdered this week along with her two adopted children before their suspected killer died at a local hospital from “apparent self-inflicted stab wounds.”

Anthony Mathis, 66, was identified as a suspect on Thursday, October 24, in connection with the murders of 78-year-old Patricia McCollum, DJ McCollum, 32, and Kaydence McCollum (whose last name was also spelled “Cadence”), 11, according to With Cincinnati Police Department (CPD).

Police said Mathis “died from his injuries” later that day after being taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

According to CPD, Cincinnati police officers and fire department personnel responded to a report of a stabbing on Springbrook Drive around 8 a.m. local time on Oct. 24 before discovering three victims with stab wounds and determining they had died. The CPD Homicide Unit is investigating.

“I never dreamed of something like this,” neighbor Diana Turnbow told the NBC affiliate WLWT. “We just heard people shouting stop, come back, don’t run and stuff like that and that’s all we heard.”

Rosemary Oglesby-Henry, founder of Rosemary’s Babies Company – of which WLTW reported Patricia was a board member – confirmed that DJ and Kaydence were Patricia’s adopted children.

According to Questioner from Cincinnatipolice found Mathis after arriving at the home, where he retreated before SWAT officers tried to negotiate with him for hours.

CPD’s press release did not clearly explain its relationship to the victims. For many outlets, including the Fox branch WXIX, Questioning and WLWT. Mathis has a criminal history and was charged in April 2023 with strangulation and domestic violence, with Patricia identified as the victim.

In a criminal complaint cited by WXIX, he was then accused of “strangling her, causing pain to her neck, and simultaneously lifting her from the ground.” A judge initially signed a domestic violence protection order against Mathis, but according to media reports, his strangulation charge was “ignored” by a Hamilton County grand jury.

The domestic violence charge was ultimately “dismissed for lack of prosecution,” according to a court entry cited in WXIX.

Patricia is now remembered by those who knew her as a “heroine” and someone who left a “legacy of love.” GoFundMe campaign led by Deronn McCollum, which raised over $6,000 as of Saturday, October 26, for the woman known in her community as Mrs. Pat.

This legacy includes launching community-based programs, caring for hundreds of children, and licensing thousands of foster parents. She was known as “Pat for the People,” according to GoFundMe.

ShaRonda Moore, a friend of Patricia’s, told an ABC affiliate WCPO that she and DJ had a “very unbreakable bond” and that his mother was “very protective of him.” According to the outlet, Moore was DJ’s agent and helped look after him for 12 years.

“She was just a great advocate, a loving mother, very supportive of all her children and did everything she could for each of them,” Moore said.

According to GoFundMe, Patricia adopted DJ as a child, and he “wasn’t expected to live beyond the age of 7” due to health issues stemming from “a childhood tragedy that left him limbless and over 90% of his body deformed.”

“He lived to be 32 thanks to Mrs. Pat’s love,” the fundraiser noted. “He learned to walk and talk so he could walk across the stage and receive his diploma. She was his last resort. She never wanted to be separated from her son. It doesn’t have to. They are together in heaven, just like she”d written.”

According to the fundraiser, Kaydence “brought life and joy to a woman who thought she had adopted her last child until she met this bright little one.”

“She imitated her mother – her smile, laughter and heart,” we read in the GoFundMe description. “(She) was 11 years old. It’s too early to leave this life, but she had a family here and lots of love.”

According to GoFundMe, Patricia leaves behind adopted children, foster children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and two biological children.

“Her legacy will never die,” foster parent Brent Williams told WCPO. “You know? Her legacy will never die.”