🚨 DISTURBING REVELATION: Now we know exactly what Jennifer Strang truly thought about her own child Jesse Van Rootselaar — and it’s beyond chilling. 😱

In resurfaced posts from over a decade ago, the mother who was tragically k!lled in the Tumbler Ridge rampage described young Jesse as outright “sadistic,” confessing he showed “intense empathy” for strangers’ pain… but flashed a “devious grin” and smiled while deliberately hurting his own siblings.

The words hit like a gut punch: a parent’s desperate cry for help ignored for years, only to end in unimaginable horror.

How could a child so troubled slip through every crack until it was too late? The family’s pain, the community’s shock, the unanswered questions — this bombshell detail is rocking everyone following the tragedy.

You won’t believe the full quotes and timeline that make this even more heartbreaking 👇 Prayers for all affected.

New details emerging from old social media posts have cast a stark light on the troubled history of 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, the perpetrator of Tuesday’s deadly rampage in this remote British Columbia community. According to reports citing archived Facebook comments from more than a decade ago, Jesse’s mother, Jennifer Strang (also known legally as Jennifer Jacobs), expressed deep concern over her child’s behavior as early as 2015, when Jesse was around 7 years old. In a parenting group called Parent Life Network Canada, Strang reportedly described Jesse as displaying “sadistic” tendencies, noting a disturbing contrast in emotional responses.

“He shows intense empathy when he sees anyone hurt not by his own hand but has a devious grin when he hurts his siblings,” Strang allegedly wrote in the post, according to screenshots shared on social media and referenced in multiple news outlets, including the New York Post. The comment painted a picture of a young child who appeared to derive pleasure from causing pain to family members while reacting with genuine compassion to the suffering of others. The use of terms like “sadistic” and “devious grin” highlighted a parent’s alarm at behaviors that seemed calculated and lacking remorse in specific contexts.

Strang, 39, was one of the first victims killed by her child on February 10, 2026, along with 11-year-old Emmett Jacobs, Jesse’s half-brother, at their family home. Jesse then proceeded to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where the teen fatally shot five students aged 12 and 13, a 39-year-old teacher’s aide, and injured more than two dozen others before dying by suicide. The total death toll reached eight, marking one of the deadliest school shootings in Canadian history.

The resurfaced posts have intensified scrutiny of Jesse’s early life and the family’s struggles. Court documents from a 2015 British Columbia Supreme Court custody dispute between Strang and Jesse’s biological father, Justin Van Rootselaar, described the household as leading an “almost nomadic life,” with frequent moves across provinces including Newfoundland, Alberta, and British Columbia. The ruling criticized Strang for “reprehensible conduct” in relocating without proper notice but also noted the challenges of raising children amid instability. Justin Van Rootselaar later issued a public statement expressing sorrow for the victims while emphasizing his estrangement and lack of involvement in Jesse’s upbringing.

Investigators and media reports indicate Jesse exhibited escalating troubling behaviors in the years leading up to the tragedy. As a teenager, Jesse reportedly became fixated on firearms, sharing photos of weapons online, and developed an interest in violent content. Accounts suggest an obsession with graphic “death videos,” including beheadings and torture footage on extreme gore websites. A gaming account linked to Jesse was removed by Roblox after it was used to create a simulation depicting a shopping mall massacre, further underscoring preoccupations with violence.

Police records show multiple visits to the family home for mental health concerns, though specifics remain limited due to privacy laws. Jesse, who transitioned and identified as female several years ago, had prior interactions with authorities related to mental health and firearms, including an expired license. No clear motive has been publicly confirmed, but witness statements and student accounts suggest Jesse may have targeted the school partly to “finish off” remaining family members present there.

Survivors and community members continue to grapple with the aftermath. Students recalled the chaos in the library, with some crediting quick actions — including those of critically injured 12-year-old Maya Gebala, who attempted to lock a door — for potentially saving lives. Maya remains in critical condition at B.C. Children’s Hospital, showing small signs of progress such as limb movements amid a long recovery ahead.

Strang herself was remembered by those who knew her as a vocal advocate for kindness and understanding in her small northern community. In older posts, she identified as a conservative-leaning libertarian who valued rural life and raising her children there. Ironically, some archived content showed her speaking out against transphobia and promoting compassion, even as she privately wrestled with concerns about her child’s behavior.

The biological father’s statement to media outlets like CBC and Global News distanced himself from direct responsibility while offering condolences: “I carry a sorrow that is difficult to put into words… While that distance is the reality of our relationship, it does not lessen the heartbreak I feel for the pain that has been caused to innocent people and to the town we call home.” He referred to Jesse using the name Strang and male pronouns, reflecting ongoing family complexities.

Broader questions have arisen about mental health support in remote areas, access to firearms, and early intervention for troubled youth. Anti-hate groups and investigators have examined Jesse’s online activity for signs of radicalization or deeper psychological issues, including high-functioning autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and ADHD, as mentioned in family statements.

As Tumbler Ridge mourns, vigils have drawn national leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, who attended a candlelight gathering to express solidarity. The RCMP continues its investigation, focusing on the timeline, weapon sources, and potential warning signs that went unheeded.

The revelation of Strang’s long-ago words adds a tragic layer to an already devastating story: a mother’s early fears, documented in a parenting forum, that foreshadowed horrors no one could have fully anticipated. Whether those signs could have prompted different outcomes remains a painful point of reflection for the community and the nation.