Community and police come together to help three children after their mother's murder

UPDATE 7/21/2021: Click here to see the overwhelming response from the KC community and Worlds of Fun staff for the children and family of Andrea Dean, who was tragically killed on June 13.

UPDATED 7/2/2021: The suspect and victim names previously listed in this article were incorrect.

On June 13, a man named Christopher Spears fatally shot Andrea Dean. Andrea had three children who witnessed her tragic death.

Andrea's three children are now left in the care of their grandmother. Preparing a home for three children unexpectedly comes with a unique set of challenges. Like any good grandmother who is full of love for her grandchildren, she has set out to make her grandchildren’s transition into her home as seamless as possible. She enlisted the help of her Pastor Cassandra Wainright, who then contacted Central Patrol Station’s Social Services Specialist Brooke McQuillar. This would be the beginning of a collaborative effort of three KCPD Division Stations (Central, Metro, and East Patrols) along with  the Healing Pathways organization.

The family lives in Metro Patrol Division, so McQuillar contacted Metro Patrols Social Services Specialist Lindsay Moran for assistance.

Moran has been able to pull together enough resources to get the family going in the right direction. At 11 a.m. Friday, July 2, beds for the children will be delivered to their grandmother’s home. The children will also be getting brand new sheets and blankets courtesy of KCPD’s Crime Lab staff. Several officers raised money among themselves to help the family in the meantime. The KCPD Friends and Family group will also provide the family with new comforters. The children will be receiving clothes and shoes. Henry Service of The Service Law Offices will represent their grandmother pro bono to guide her through the legal process of adopting her grandchildren. A tragic loss for these children has landed them in the care of their grandmother, but with the help of KCPD Social Service Specialists and upstanding community members these children will be able to have everything they will need to be at home in their grandmother’s house. The KCPD wants to thank all those who came together to help make this very difficult time a little bit easier for the family. If you want to join the efforts to help this family, you can contact Metro Patrol Social Services Specialist Lindsay Moran at 816-558-2010 or email at [email protected].

Christopher Spears has since been charged in regard to this crime.