Family of Dayton mass shooter Connor Betts remembers him as 'funny, articulate and intelligent' in obituary
UPDATE: Connor Betts's parents have since apologized for the tone they used writing their son's obituary.
"Stephen and Moira Betts apologize that the wording of the obituary for their son Connor was insensative [sic] in not acknowledging the terrible tragedy that he created," an updated page on Conner & Koch Funeral Home's website reads. "In their grief, they presented the son that they knew which in no way reduces the horror of his last act. We are deeply sorry."
Original text:
The relatives of Connor Betts, the 24-year-old who opened fire outside a crowded Ohio bar, killing 9 people earlier this month, remembered him as "funny" and "articulate" in an obituary that did not mention his crime or even his younger sister, who died in the shooting.
Betts, who the obit identifies as a former grill cook at Chipotle and student at Sinclair Community College, was an "intelligent man with striking blue eyes and a kind smile" who became an "avid reader" at an early age, according to the tribute, which has since been deleted.
Photo: Screenshot/Conner & Koch Funeral Home
The page states that Betts "passed away Sunday, August 4th, 2019," making no note of the fact that he was killed by police after attacking revelers with an assault rifle in the crowded downtown Dayton area.
Instead, the obituary focused on the killer's love for "music of all different kinds, especially electronic dance music," and his favorite pastimes, including "reading on his Kindle," "playing his Xbox" and "watching his favorite show, Bob's Burgers."
The eulogy says Betts was "preceded in death by his beloved Nana" and "survived by his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many loving friends," but notably excludes his sister, 22-year-old Megan Betts, who he killed during his late-night gun rampage.
A separate obituary posted on the same website remembers the younger Betts child as a "loving, intelligent, and bright young woman" who had "hoped to work for NASA to be a part of exploring the viability of life on other planets" before her life was cut short.
"Megan was known as a loving, caring, and supportive friend, always ready to help and do anything she could to make their lives better," it continues, "They will remember her laughter, her beautiful smile, and her kind heart."
No mention of Connor Betts is made on the page.
Although the shooter's motive still remains unclear, Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl previously said authorities did not see how he could have killed his sister at random.
"It seems to just defy believability that he would shoot his own sister, but it's also hard to believe that he didn't recognize that was his sister," Biehl said. "So we just don't know."
