Indian Trail, NC-
43-year-old mother Amanda Sherland had been thru a pretty rough divorce four years ago, according to relatives. She picked up and relocated from Florida to North Carolina, possibly trying to start a brand new,troubleless life with her 2 children. Somehow, things must have not worked out, and may have turned out worse for her. The single mom decided to end not only her life, but the lives of her children 9-year-old Ryan Alexander Sherland and 7-year-old Alyssa
Nicole Sherland. Police found their bodies in the home from gunshot wounds and they believe it was a murder-suicide. It was the children’s father, Conrad Sherland who alerted the police when he couldn’t contact the mother. He then filed a missing persons report on the three. Sadly, a suicide note was found in the house, but what it says has not been released to the public. Rest in Peace Ryan and Alyssa. You can visit a memorial site set up for the children at sherlandmemorialsite.
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UNsafe at Home 
May 24 ,2009 at 9:18 pm
I’m in a state of shock! I knew this lovely, quiet and educated young lady. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE charges were filed against her ex-husbad Conrad Sherland. Noone will ever know how much she had to endure throughout those years she lived with him. She clearly wanted to start a new life but, the ex-husband had to torment her some more and move within minutes from her.
My heart goes out not only for the poor children but for her desperation that made her do the unthinkable.
May 29 ,2009 at 6:45 pm
I don’t really care what this mom had to “endure” her poor innocent children didn’t deserve to die by her hand! She may have had domestic violence, but how was she any better than the abusive ex hubby to kill her beautiful kids like she that? If she was so bad off, why couldn’t she just take her life and leave the kids alone? Because she was selfish, that’s why.
June 3 ,2009 at 3:38 pm
I agree with you she should of seek another way to deal with this “monster”. Seek help with authorities. Although there’s alot of unanswered questions; like how odd that the door was unlocked; he filed a missing person report…..right away,how did he know to file a report? I mean….I’ve been out for more than 2 days without notice to my ex or family members.
we would never know if this lady was forced to do and write this murder/suicide….it’s very strange.
November 9 ,2009 at 2:44 pm
Monster? Do you know Conrad? I’ve known him for over 8 years and he is a very kind-hearted man. He knew to file a missing persons report because she had disappeared in the past. Do you think that every female that reports domestic abuse is telling the truth? Well, she filed in Broward County so that Conrad would spend Christmas in jail and not be able to see his children. I did not know Amanda and I pass no judgment on her character, I can only defend the man I know.
June 9 ,2010 at 2:45 pm
Kylie,
THAT’S WHERE CONRAD SHOULD OF STAYED IN JAIL….TO AVOID ALL THAT HAPPENED.
I STILL THINK HE IS GUILTY…..TIME WILL ONLY TELL!
November 28 ,2010 at 7:30 am
I’ve been through the domestic violence system. One of the shelters was run by uppity college girls who would gossip and steal donations. The supervisor was a raging alcoholic who invited abused/homeless women to come to her house to get drunk. I saw one woman after another walk out of there with their belongings in trash bags and baby in arms with no where to go after two months because their “time was up”. I was robbed by a drug addicted prostitute who was claiming to be a victim of domestic violence. I had to sleep in a room with my newborn with a woman with full blown AIDs. They put me on the streets as well with my newborn and then bad mouthed me so that no other shelter in the state would take me in. I suffered more abuse from the domestic violence authorities/system than from the man I was trying to escape. I would rather let that man kill me then to be abused by a system. That is only a partial story. But to all of you claiming this woman should have gotten help…you are obviously oblivious to the reality of what “help” is out there.
November 28 ,2010 at 7:35 am
Oh and let me have you ponder this question. What type of a life would your child have if you committed suicide? You are assuming they have a loving home somewhere out there. And that is not always the case. The foster care system is worse then the domestic violence system. I can’t tell you how many foster kids are molested and further abused. Killing your children is the ultimate act of love. Leaving them in a cruel world with no one to defend them would be wrong.
May 14 ,2012 at 9:52 pm
The reality these days is that you’d better be prepared to raise children on your own. Otherwise, don’t have them if you can’t handle it.
October 30 ,2012 at 1:39 pm
carson here friend of Ryan.
At the funeral his father Conrad told me i was the clost thing he had left to family. I see no reason this man had any part of this terrible incodent.
December 10 ,2014 at 9:28 am
Ryan was my best friend..i miss him dearly and think about what what he’d look like if he were still alive he’d be about 16 or 17 now same as me we’d almost be out of high school. I wonder what career he’d want and if he’d still have that sense of humor that kept us in trouble at school in Mr.Rybos class. The last time he and I spoke was the Friday before the day he died.RIP Ryan and little Alyssa. Love u guys.
March 18 ,2016 at 11:19 pm
In 2016, Ryan would be 18.. Just like me. Ryan and I hungout all the time, and he was the best friend I had. When I moved into the same neighborhood, he was my very first friend. I was is Mr. Rybos’s class too. I should have gone to the funeral, but I only now have the courage to see him again, even if it’s just pictures. About 9 years later… I miss you Ryan, and I’m sorry for my last words to you…