Wisconsin Man Accused of Killing Mother of Eight in Front of Their 9-Year-Old Daughter After Accusing Her of Cheating

A Wisconsin mother of eight was fatally shot inside her own home while several of her children were nearby, according to police. The alleged motive was a jealous accusation of infidelity, turning a domestic dispute into a devastating tragedy for a family now left to grieve the loss of their mother. Authorities say the woman’s estranged partner shot her after becoming angry that she had gone on a date with another man.

Tavarris Jones, 41, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, with additional modifiers related to the use of a deadly weapon and domestic violence, in connection with the death of 42-year-old Kazzie Ference. According to a criminal complaint cited by Law&Crime, police were called to Ference’s home in Milwaukee at approximately 2:36 a.m. on October 10 after receiving a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found Ference dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

The most heartbreaking details emerged from interviews with the children who were inside the home that night. One of Ference’s older children told investigators that she had been asleep when she heard two gunshots. Initially frightened, she stayed in her room before eventually going to check on her mother. When she found Ference unresponsive and saw a large amount of blood, she realized something terrible had happened. The child then called 911, telling the dispatcher, “My momma got shot.”

Investigators also spoke with Ference’s 9-year-old daughter, who reportedly saw Jones inside the home shortly before the shooting. According to the criminal complaint, the girl said Jones told her to remain in the bedroom. She also described hearing her mother and Jones arguing the previous day, when Ference reportedly told him that he needed to leave her house. The girl’s account would become an important part of the investigation into the events leading up to her mother’s death.

According to police, the conflict may have been connected to Ference going on a date with another man on the evening of October 9. The older child told investigators that Ference returned home later that night while she was sleeping in her mother’s bedroom. The 9-year-old also came into the room, reportedly carrying a camera. While the children were there, they heard the gunshots. The criminal complaint alleges that the younger girl saw Jones holding a gun to her mother’s head before he shot her.

The girl further told investigators that Jones made a remark accusing Ference of cheating after the shooting, allegedly saying that she would not cheat on him again because she was dead. He then reportedly left the home. Police also reviewed video evidence that showed Jones leaving the residence at approximately 1:50 a.m., according to the older child’s account. Investigators are examining the available evidence to establish the precise sequence of events and strengthen their understanding of what happened that night.

Ference was not only a mother of eight but also a grandmother. A fundraising campaign organized by one of her children described her death as a senseless act of domestic violence and appealed for help with funeral expenses and support for the children she left behind. The family reportedly includes a child with special needs, adding to the practical and emotional challenges they now face as they attempt to rebuild their lives without her.

Jones was arrested and remains in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail, where he is being held on a $500,000 cash bond, according to Law&Crime. His next court appearance was scheduled for October 20, 2026. The allegations against him have not yet been resolved in court, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Meanwhile, Ference’s family is left to cope with a sudden and devastating loss, while investigators continue working to establish the full circumstances surrounding her death.

Source: Law&Crime