Fmr UM Vball player Molly Toon killed by husband in murder-suicide
Molly Toon, former Wolverine volleyball player and daughter of NFL WR Al Toon, tragically killed by husband who then killed himself, leaving their 8 mo. old daughter behind. Unspeakably tragic.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/molly-lillard-michigan-wolverines-volleyba…
Horrible
Any relation to Nick Toon, I didn't see it mentioned in the yahoo article? (Serious question, I believe he played for Wisconsin a few years back)
Brother
April 14th, 2021 at 10:41 AM ^
Sister
The article I read said that she's Al Toon's daughter, so that would (obviously) make her Nick's brother.
Awful story.
April 14th, 2021 at 10:41 AM ^
Sister.
If this were any other story the brother/sister exchange above would be quite funny.
This a tragedy and I can’t feel anything but sadness right now.
Equal parts heartbreaking and enraging. We have so, so far to go to resolve the mental health epidemic our country faces. It transcends socioeconomic, racial, and cultural lines, and it infects everyone in its orbit.
April 14th, 2021 at 11:05 AM ^
I take your point, and I agree. I would add that since this is gun crime, the primary conversation should include the fact that gun crime always has two components to it: access to guns, and anger. Mental health issues are not always present. It's a nuanced, but important distinction.
April 14th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
I think they're intertwined. Anger unchecked leading to intent to kill is a mental health timebomb in itself, and the gun is the match that lights the fuse.
April 14th, 2021 at 10:02 AM ^
What years did she play at UM?
April 14th, 2021 at 10:09 AM ^
Article says she graduated from high school in 2010.
April 14th, 2021 at 12:05 PM ^
2010 - 2013.
April 14th, 2021 at 10:03 AM ^
horrible. wtf is wrong with people
I used to find this sort of thing unfathomable. I couldn't imagine how anyone could bring themselves to commit an act like this. But I think most of us have had times in our lives when we've been in really dark places, when you can't imagine life possibly working out from the point that you're in. I've been there three times in the last 5 years, and I'm extremely fortunate (or blessed, is how I see it) to have had the people in my life that I needed at the right time. Most people have support around them to help lift them up, but not everyone does. Add to that the current culture (not referring to COVID) where for many people the only consistent access they have to others is through social media, where everyone you know filters their lives to look perfect and the rest seems to be a cess pool of savage hatred for one another. Our brains spent thousands of years evolving and were made to be constantly surrounded by our community friends and family, and this culture is a shock to the system.
So yeah, for some people it's just too much. They get irrational in their emotions and it gets the best of them.
Sure, people get overwhelmed and depressed. It's happened to good friends of mine. It's happened to me.
I would still argue that the need or desire to kill other people during a suicide goes beyond depression and gets into anger/control/narcissism issues. How can you have a tiny baby and think the best plan is to leave it an orphan? No matter how depressed someone is, that veers into a much darker area.
I used to think the same thing and then I got depressed. It is surprisingly easy to convince your self of anything and when someone is constantly hurting you and making you feel worthless constantly it is not hard to believe that a child would be better off without a constantly hurtful person and a worthless person in their life. Unfortunately this individual did not get the help they needed to show them that was not the case. No excuse for this but it is much easier to believe than you think.
Unfortunately true. Killing someone else is a different story, but I've known a few suicidal people and they think they've fucked up for nonsense reasons and everyone else would be better off if they were gone.
April 14th, 2021 at 10:06 AM ^
Just awful. I can't imagine what the family is going thru.
April 14th, 2021 at 10:13 AM ^
Awful and sickening
April 14th, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^
My word. No parent should ever have to bury their own child.
April 14th, 2021 at 10:51 AM ^
This story makes my heart hurt. So, so tragic for all close to the family. I several law enforcement friends who speak consistently about the high percentage of folks they engage with that have mental health issues. It is an epidemic for sure. My she Rest In Peace and her family find some comfort from other loved ones.
April 14th, 2021 at 10:51 AM ^
RIP Molly. Blue forever.
April 14th, 2021 at 11:29 AM ^
No words can encapsulate what the Toon family is trying to navigate right now. It's unimaginable. What an unspeakable loss for their family, friends, and the UM volleyball family.
April 14th, 2021 at 11:48 AM ^
So sad. Prayers for the Toon family. (Al was one of my favorite players growing up and could've been a HOFer if not for his 9 concussions. Loved those 80s Jets teams.)
April 14th, 2021 at 11:49 AM ^
Tragic and all around unnecessary. Hope both families can find some semblance of peace in their lives.
This country has a huge crisis to address with mental health, and I hope the powers that be in our leadership continue to take steps in the coming years to address it. Sadly, stories like this are becoming more and more prevalent in our day to day, and less and less surprising.
Society has so, so much work to do in order to reduce the instance and harms of domestic violence. Way too many people convert their frustrations into physical harm on their partners, sometimes leading to this worst-case outcome.
Dear God. That poor family.
OMG, this is so so very sad, thoughts and prayers to the Toon family. We have had season volleyball tickets for years and have seen her play so many games, can't believe this. :-(
RIP Molly.
God, how horrible. A huge loss for not just the Toon family, but for the Wisconsin and Michigan families as well. Prayers for them.
Heartbreaking.....u never REALLY know who your marrying....unspeakbly tragic..My thoughts and prayers to go out to both families
Stomach turning
RIP Molly