On October 26, 1996, 14-year-old Brandon Armstrong of San Marcos, California, was shot in the head and killed alongside his three younger brothers: Austin Eubanks, 7; Brigham Eubanks, 6; and Matthew Eubanks, 4. The children’s mother, Susan Eubanks, also suffered a gunshot wound to her stomach and survived. Events that day included heavy drinking and drug use by Eubanks and a heated argument with her boyfriend; after the dispute she damaged his car and initially refused him entry, prompting him to call police and later retrieve belongings escorted by officers. Eubanks called one of the children’s fathers and spoke of suicidal thoughts before the police arrived and discovered the deaths.

Eubanks was arrested and charged with four counts of first-degree murder. The prosecution said the killings were motivated by anger and revenge against the children’s fathers and the boyfriend; the defense argued intoxication and emotional distress impaired her control. Eubanks was convicted and sentenced to death in 1999; appeals followed through the 2000s and 2010s.

Does anyone have memories of the San Marcos community from 1996 that could shed light on the children’s lives or their routines?