Jan. 5, 2026 | Published 6:00 p.m. ET
**Son Accused of Killing Parents in Texas Home Sparks Fears of Copycat Family Murders**
Bryce Ragan stands accused of killing his parents inside their Texas home in a case that RadarOnline.com can reveal has deeply unsettled local officials. The incident has also raised broader concerns about a potential surge in family-on-family killings across the United States — similar to the recent Reiners massacre.
### Welfare Check Ends in Double Homicide
Police discovered the bodies of Jackie Ragan, 72, and Leonard Frank Ragan, 73, on the morning of Sunday, December 30. Officers responded to the couple’s McKinney home after relatives requested a welfare check, having not heard from the pair for several days.
Leonard Ragan had served as McKinney’s city manager from March 2008 until June 2010. Officers entered the property through a back door and found the couple dead in the living room.
While investigating, police encountered their son, Bryce, in a bedroom holding a firearm. After he allegedly refused commands to drop the weapon, officers shot him multiple times. Bryce was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Authorities have confirmed the deaths are being treated as homicides but have not released details on how Jackie and Leonard were killed. No officers were injured during the incident, and police have stated there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Bryce Ragan has been charged with capital murder of multiple persons and three counts of aggravated assault of a public servant. The Texas Rangers are conducting a separate investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Paul Grimes, McKinney’s current city manager, expressed condolences, stating: “Our condolences and prayers are with the family. We are unable to comment further while this is an active investigation.”
### Family and Neighbor Reactions
Jackie Ragan’s brother, David Foster, shared his grief and disbelief on Facebook, asking: “What in the hell is wrong with the world today?”
Foster revealed that Bryce was once a high-achieving student but struggled with mental health issues as an adult. He lamented, “Mental problems have turned into a plague in the U.S.A.”
Foster also disclosed that he was the relative who requested the welfare check. He said officers had visited the home multiple times before finally forcing entry. “I am at such a loss,” he added.
Neighbors described shock and sadness in the usually quiet community. Nate Barrett, who lives nearby, said: “It’s very shocking. It’s always something you never expect in your own neighborhood… You always hear about this on the news.”
Former city officials remembered Leonard Ragan as a dedicated public servant. Brian Loughmiller, a former mayor who worked with him, expressed his sorrow: “I was shocked. Over the holidays, the vision you have of everybody is: it’s such a happy time, a celebratory time. Just reminds you it’s not always the case.”
Another former mayor, George Fuller, stated: “No words to make sense of something like this.”
### Fears of Copycat Family Bloodbaths
Fuller noted the case felt especially disturbing given its proximity to another recent, high-profile family killing—the murder of filmmaker Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Reiner, 70. The Reiners were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood, California home in mid-December.
“This is on the heels of a nationally known tragedy, you know, with Rob Reiner, and so when you have a family member, or appears to be a family member, commit this crime, it’s just really unbelievable, it’s surreal, it’s heartbreaking,” Fuller said.
The Reiners’ son, Nick Reiner, 32, has been arrested and charged in connection with their deaths.
Criminologists warn that intense media coverage of such cases can fuel imitation. A Texas-based violence prevention researcher stated, “When high-profile incidents involving family annihilation dominate headlines, it can lower the psychological barrier for others in crisis.”
A former federal law enforcement official added, “These cases are rare, but clusters can create a sense that this kind of violence is somehow contagious.”
Law enforcement agencies nationwide fear the Reiner murders might spark sick copycat killings. There is growing paranoia within homes housing troubled or disturbed children, further heightening concerns of potential future tragedies.
https://radaronline.com/p/bryce-ragan-murder-texas-couple-copycat-rob-reiner/