Hundreds Gather To Say Goodbye To Local Mother, Children

Hundreds of people paid their final respects to a young mother and two of her children who were found dead in their Dallas home last week.

The visitation and funeral for Tracy Hedgepath, 6-year-old Austen Minter II 3-year-old Serenity Minter was held Saturday at the Hillview Baptist Church. Hedgepath, who was three months pregnant when she died, was laid to rest with her children.

Police said 25-year-old Austen Minter shot his girlfriend and the couple's three children before turning the gun on himself on June 9.

The couple's oldest child, 7-year-old Destiny, survived the shooting. She is still in a hospital in serious condition.

Tracy's father, Carl Hedgepath, stepped out of the family's private viewing inside of the church to speak publicly for the first time about the tragedy.

“I just ask everybody to pray for my baby, the one that we got and for the ones that are gone to heaven,” he said.

Dozens of people stopped by the church during the three-hour visitation before the funeral.

Resident Dorothy Covington said it was important for her to show her support.

"I wouldn't want nobody to go through what this family is going through today but I'm going to keep both families in thought and prayer,” Covington said.

Hedgepath and her children were buried at the Long Creek Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery.

Previous Stories: July 13, 2010: Girl Still In Hospital After Father Kills Family, Himself July 15, 2010: Hundreds Mourn Murdered Mother, Children