An Idaho man has been accused of committing a horrific act of family violence that left his daughter dead and his son fighting for his life. Police say he had been planning the attack for nearly a year before carrying it out.
Idaho Father Charged With Murder
Delbert Cornish, 51, has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault. He is being held at the Canyon County Jail without bond. Authorities allege that Cornish shot and killed his 18-year-old daughter, Hope Cornish, and then attacked his teenage son at their home in Caldwell, a suburb of Boise.
Planned Attack and Daughter’s Death
Court documents reveal that Cornish had purchased a 9 mm handgun months earlier and had planned to kill his three children and himself. On Monday morning, after drinking alcohol, he allegedly went into his daughter’s room and shot her in the head.
He then kissed her cheek and shot her cat, telling police it was because “no one would care for it after they were all dead.” According to investigators, he covered Hope’s body with a large pride flag to honour her, since it was important to her.
Teen Son Fights Back
Hours later, when his teenage son returned from school, Cornish reportedly told him that he had killed his sister. He then pointed a gun at the boy and blocked him from leaving the house. The teenager bravely fought back, wrestled the gun away, and escaped to call 911.
Police officers arrived shortly after 4 p.m. and discovered signs of violence inside the home, including a possible murder-suicide note on the wall. The message included disturbing phrases such as “My kids died by my hand” and “I’m going, my kids are going with me.”
Arrest and Confession
Cornish fled the scene in his brother’s orange Dodge Challenger. With the help of license plate reader cameras, police tracked him to Mountain Home, where he was arrested without incident.
Once in custody, Cornish reportedly confessed, saying, “I did it, dude.” He broke down in tears when officers confirmed they had found his daughter’s body. He also admitted he struggled with alcoholism and depression and felt “belittled” by his brother, who lived with them.
Motive Behind the Violence
According to the affidavit, Cornish said he believed his children were bullied and would not be able to survive without him. He had planned to kill all three of his children, but his oldest son was in prison, which disrupted the plan.
Investigators say he expressed remorse for killing his daughter and claimed he spared his younger son because he was his only biological child. He also admitted he attempted to shoot himself after the attack, but the gun did not fire.
Court Hearing Scheduled
Cornish is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on September 3. Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram called the case a “horrific act of family violence” and expressed sympathy for the victims’ family and friends.
This disturbing case in Idaho has left a family shattered and a community in shock. A father’s long-standing struggles with depression, alcohol, and feelings of hopelessness reportedly drove him to take his daughter’s life and nearly kill his son.
While justice will now take its course, the tragedy highlights the devastating impact of untreated mental health struggles and family conflict.
