{"id":1184,"date":"2026-05-27T13:05:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T13:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottsdalemovinghub.com\/?p=1184"},"modified":"2026-05-27T13:05:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T13:05:36","slug":"valley-mother-turns-grief-into-advocacy-after-children-killed-by-estranged-husband","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottsdalemovinghub.com\/?p=1184","title":{"rendered":"Valley mother turns grief into advocacy after children killed by estranged husband"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SURPRISE, Ariz. \u2014 Two years after losing her young children in a murder-suicide involving her estranged husband, a Valley mother is speaking out as another Valley family reels from a similar tragedy.<\/p>\n

Read more Arizona budget deal appears closer as Republican lawmakers and Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs soften tone in negotiations<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Police say a 38-year-old mother in Phoenix shot at her husband while he was with another woman before returning home and killing their 10-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter, then taking her own life.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hope Hooton says she understands the heartbreak all too well.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hooton\u2019s estranged husband, Brock Mater, killed their 7-year-old son, Alec, and 6-year-old daughter, Lydia, in May 2024 before turning the gun on himself.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cNow I think of them in heaven together, and I just can imagine them playing together, and they’re happy,\u201d Hooton said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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She described Alec as a bundle of joy who loved soccer, basketball and Pok\u00e9mon. Her daughter, Lydia, loved sparkles and unicorns. Describing her eyes as bright blue, which looked like pools of water.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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“She loved her big brother,\u201d Hooton said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hooton said she and Mater were involved in family court proceedings and that he had a history of domestic violence. Despite that, she said a judge granted them 50\/50 unsupervised custody.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cIn my case, there were huge, huge lethality risk markers, and those were not taken seriously, and now I am sitting here without my two children,\u201d Hooton said. \u201cAnd so that’s my mission on this Earth is to keep my children’s legacy alive, also protect countless children and victims for decades to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Since the deaths of her children, Hooton has become a child safety advocate and helped craft legislation currently moving through the Arizona Legislature known as the Alec and Lydia Act.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The proposed legislation would require courts to prioritize child safety over equal parenting time during custody disputes. Under the bill, a parent\u2019s history of domestic violence against the other parent would be considered the primary factor in determining custody.<\/p>\n

Read more Juror removed in Ian Mithcham penalty phase, deliberations to start over<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hooton said\u00a0family violence-related child killings occur regularly across the country.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cUnfortunately, filicide happens in our country about two to three times a day, two to three children a day are passing away at the hands of a parent,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hooton said parents often struggle to believe such violence is possible.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cNobody ever wants to believe that somebody could harm their own child,\u201d she said. \u201cWe pray and hope that this never happens, but we do know that it will.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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After hearing about the recent Phoenix killings, Hooton said children should never become victims of conflicts between parents.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cWhatever’s going on with the parents should never bleed over into a child’s safety or children’s safety,\u201d she said. \u201cThe children were innocent bystanders, and they should still be here.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hooton said she hopes the proposed legislation will help prevent similar tragedies in the future.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cWe can continue to push forward for change, for legislative change, and save countless children’s lives for decades to come,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Alec and Lydia Act is expected to be heard by the Arizona Senate for a full vote in June.<\/p>\n

Read more Phoenix police investigate deadly, fiery crash near 35th Avenue and Bell Road<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SURPRISE, Ariz. \u2014 Two years after losing her young children in a murder-suicide involving her estranged husband, a Valley mother is speaking out as another Valley family reels from a similar tragedy. Read more Arizona budget deal appears closer as Republican lawmakers and Democrat Gov. 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