Minnesota murder suicide: Matthew Deyo killed by husband Aric Babbitt ahead of teen sex scandal
A Minnesota elementary school teacher and his husband, who were both accused of having sexual relations with eight underage boys for several years, were identified as the pair found in a murder suicide.
Officials closed the four-month investigation when they discovered Aric Babbitt, a teacher at a South St. Paul elementary school, who killed his husband, Matthew Deyo, and then himself after a 16-year-old boy came forward with accusations of an “ongoing sexual relationship” with the couple.
Police reports indicate they were never charged as the police tallied a 134-page case file. Police suspected that more boys may have been in sexual relationships with the couple. However, the other seven victims were not revealed until the case file, which was obtained by the Pioneer Press, was closed and released.
The couple also gave their victims alcohol and marijuana, and provided them with phones so that they could communicate with each other.
During the investigation, police found a hidden camera in a clock in the couple’s bathroom that contained video footage of several boys.
Authorities also discovered video footage of an unidentified man who was unknowingly videotaped in the nude at Babbit and Deyo’s home in South St. Paul.
An autopsy concluded that Babbit fatally shot his husband before killing himself. Their bodies were found thousands of miles away from where they lived in Washington State along with a note found on the couple stating they were on a “vacation of a lifetime.”
Court documents also said the couple had sent a suicide letter to Deyo’s parents.
Superintendent Dave Webb said in a recent statement to the Pioneer Press that the district is retaining its investigation documents because of “anticipation of a pending civil legal action.”