Mary Grace Westman, the mother of Annunciation Catholic School shooter Robin Westman, fled her Florida apartment and returned to Minneapolis just hours before the FBI raided her home, according to The Daily Mail. The 67-year-old left her Naples condo in a state of panic on Wednesday, so distressed that she called a neighbor fearing she had left her patio door unlocked. The neighbor then contacted the Collier County Sheriff’s Office to check on the property. Photos showed Mary’s car still parked under the building’s awning.
Mary had retired in 2021 from her role at Annunciation Catholic Church, the same institution where her transgender child, Robin Westman, carried out a mass shooting that killed two children and injured 17 others. In the aftermath of the tragedy, she retained high-profile criminal defense attorney Ryan Garry. Known for representing NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Garry told Fox News that Mary is “completely distraught” and has “no culpability” but is seeking legal help to manage the situation.
Former school employees described Mary’s struggles in accepting Robin’s transition, which began roughly five years ago. One former colleague recalled Mary expressing confusion and conflict about how her Catholic faith aligned with her child’s identity. Robin, then known as Robert, was described as a lonely and disruptive student whose behavior prompted school interventions and meetings with leadership.
In a manifesto posted online prior to the attack, Robin mentioned his mother several times, writing that she “would have seen it coming” given his troubled past. Police have not yet made contact with Mary, and the Westman family has not issued any public statements since the incident.
Robin’s father, Jim Westman, reportedly appeared devastated when police arrived at his home after the shooting. A neighbor witnessed him sitting on the sidewalk with his head in his hands as he was comforted by his partner. Police documents indicate that Robin had recently experienced a breakup and was staying with a friend before the attack.
