Why did Amy Voight’s parents say they urged her husband to seek professional help?

 The deaths of Amy Voight, her husband David Voight, and their 13-year-old daughter, Mya, have left a San Carlos family facing a devastating loss. The three were found shot to death inside their home on September 16, according to San Diego police. As investigators continue examining what happened, Amy’s parents are sharing what they knew about their daughter, her husband, and concerns that had emerged only days before the family was killed.

Amy’s parents, Mary and Jerry Austin, described their daughter as a devoted mother and accomplished professional. She had worked as a digital forensics analyst for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a career that reflected the qualities her mother emphasized. Mary described Amy as extremely bright and an amazing person. For her parents, those qualities are now part of the memories they are holding as they cope with the devastating loss of their daughter and granddaughter.

The Austins also described David as a decorated U.S. Navy warrant officer who served for approximately 30 years. According to the family, his military career included working alongside Navy SEALs in explosive ordnance disposal and deployments to war zones, including Iraq and Afghanistan. The family said David had post-traumatic stress disorder and that symptoms had recently become more noticeable and concerning. They said they could see that he was struggling before the deaths occurred.

Mary Austin said the family had urged Amy to seek professional assistance for David. According to the family, they encouraged her to take him to a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic after becoming concerned about his condition. Amy went to a VA facility on September 15, which was also her birthday. Jerry Austin said she spoke with a receptionist and a nurse and asked whether David could receive assistance with anxiety, depression, and frustration.

According to Jerry Austin, Amy also asked whether anything could be done to help David calm down. He said she was told counselors were busy and that an appointment would need to be scheduled. The account comes from Amy’s parents as they describe events preceding the deaths. It does not establish what happened inside the family’s home the following day, nor does it establish a motive or explain the circumstances surrounding the fatal shootings.

On September 16, police found Amy, David, and Mya shot to death inside their San Carlos residence. San Diego police have not publicly released a determination regarding the circumstances or motive surrounding the deaths. The investigation remains ongoing for now. The available information therefore distinguishes between what Amy’s parents have reported about the days beforehand and what authorities have officially established about the deaths.

For the Austin family, the loss has been devastating. Jerry described the pain as only beginning, while remembering his daughter and granddaughter and the events that preceded their deaths. He is also a Navy veteran who has experienced PTSD himself, giving his comments a personal connection to the concerns he expressed about veterans facing mental health emergencies. His experience has shaped his view that people in crisis should be able to reach timely assistance when they need it.

Jerry pointed to his own experience receiving care at a VA clinic in Lancaster, California, which he described as responsive and supportive. His comments came while his family was confronting the deaths of Amy, David, and Mya and reflecting on the help Amy had sought the day before. For now, the investigation remains unfinished, and authorities have not publicly determined what led to the three deaths. Amy’s parents continue to remember her as a devoted mother and accomplished professional, while the family mourns three lives lost inside one home.