Sand Springs Pastor Offers Hope, Resources After 2 Murder-Suicides

It has been a devastating two weeks in Sand Springs after two murder-suicides involving children, only a mile apart from each other.

A Sand Springs pastor, whose church is right in between both crime scenes, wants people to know that there is help out there.

Pastor Rusty Gunn at Church That Matter, said this whole community is shocked and heartbroken right now. He said these kind of senseless tragedies just do not happen here. He wants people who are in a dark place right now to know that they aren’t alone.

“This should really teach us a lesson. A word of hope to one of these two guys could have saved many lives,” said Pastor Gunn.

The church is just down the road from where Phillip Ross killed his two daughters and their mother, Staci Smith, before killing himself.

The church is also a block away from where police said David Kaser killed his two teenage daughters on Tuesday, and himself.

“It’s a reminder that there is brokenness all around us,” said Pastor Gunn. “We can’t just get comfortable and happy with what we have.”

Pastor Gunn has been the pastor for the last 10 years and he lives in town.

He said he has seen the community go through some hard times, but he said what makes the place special is everybody is willing to help each other in a time of need.

He said that’s needed now more than ever.

“We’ve got to be aware of what’s happening in people’s lives. We get so busy with routines, and kind of in our own bubble, that we may not see some of the red flags coming up,” said Pastor Gunn.

Pastor Gunn wants people to know there are resources out there that can help, including churches. He said no one has to go through hard times alone.

“It’s hard when you are in the moment to see past the darkness, but we are here. We love you, and we care for you,” said Gunn.

Pastor Gunn said if there anyone out there who needs something, please call the church at 918-512-1486.

He said if they don’t have what you need, they will fight tooth and nail to find it for you.