The quiet neighborhood of a Naples, Florida condo complex was disrupted when Mary Grace Westman, mother of the recent Catholic church shooter Robin Westman, abruptly left her residence just hours before FBI agents came knocking. On a Wednesday that seemed ordinary, the 67-year-old retired church employee took a flight back to Minnesota, unwittingly setting the stage for a series of events that would draw national attention.
"She is completely distraught about the situation and has no culpability but is seeking an attorney to deal with calls like this," said Ryan Garry, Mary Grace Westman's attorney.
After her departure, concerned she had left her patio door unlocked, Mary reached out to a neighbor for help. The neighbor subsequently contacted the Collier County Sheriff’s Office to secure her property. The Daily Mail published photos of Mary's blue-gray Mini Cooper S, abandoned in the condo parking lot, encapsulating the suddenness of her exit.
Mary's connection to the tragic event at Annunciation Catholic Church, where Robin opened fire, killing two children and injuring 17 others, is compounded by her prior employment at the same church. In the aftermath, Mary has engaged the services of criminal defense attorney Ryan Garry, as reported by the Conservative Brief. Garry, known for representing high-profile clients such as NFL star Colin Kaepernick, stated to Fox News, “She is completely distraught about the situation and has no culpability but is seeking an attorney to deal with calls like this.”
The tragedy has cast a spotlight on Robin's troubled history, with former teachers from Annunciation Catholic School recounting a child who struggled with social isolation and disruptive behavior. An online manifesto left by Robin hinted at a turbulent relationship with his mother, particularly concerning his identification as transgender. “I feel like my mom would have seen it coming due to my rocky past with violent threats,” Robin confessed in the document.
Mary's own past includes political activism, notably captured in a photograph of her protesting abortion in 2005. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara revealed the difficulty investigators are facing in their attempt to speak with her. Neighbors in Minneapolis expressed their disbelief at the connection between the quiet Westman family and the heinous act committed by Robin.
The attack, carried out with three legally obtained firearms, raises questions about gun laws and mental health resources. Robin's father, James Westman, a former software employee, was seen visibly shattered by the news, according to eyewitnesses.
As the investigation unfolds, the Westman family remains silent. The implications of the attack and the mother's subsequent actions are yet to be fully understood.
