Mom who plunged to her death with baby in her arms had searched for ‘easy suicide’ on her phone

The boyfriend of the California woman who plunged to her death while holding her two-year-old son in her arms said her murder-suicide was ‘very intentional and very planned.’

Christopher Browning said his girlfriend, Raquel Wilkins, 40, became increasingly paranoid and delusional in the days leading up to her death, even searching the internet for ‘easy suicide’ and ‘means of suicide.’

He claimed that on the day of her suicide, Wilkins twice talked about how much height was needed to ensure a fall would be fatal. 

Browning said he knew Wilkins and their two-year-old son, Denzel Browning-Wilkins, were dead the moment she leapt off the third level of Petco Park – the baseball stadium that is home to the San Diego Padres.

Four months after their September 2021 deaths, San Diego police ruled the case a murder-suicide after ‘a thorough and comprehensive investigation.’ 

Wilkins’ family disputed the claim that she took her own life, but Browning now has confirmed she had been struggling with her mental health before her death. 

Christopher Browning said on the day of her suicide, Wilkins twice talked about how much height was needed to ensure a fall would be fatal. Browning is pictured with their son

Browning, speaking out for the first time more than 10 months after his girlfriend and son died, said it was time he came to terms with the fact that their death was a murder-suicide. 

‘To honor Denzel and her is to really be truthful,’ he told The San Diego Union-Tribune. ‘And to grieve in a healthy way, you have to honor the truth.’

He said Wilkins was battling with mental health issues and had drifted ‘further and further away from reality’ ahead of her ‘very intentional, very planned’ death.

Police documents obtained by the newspaper revealed that the day before her suicide, Wilkins used her phone to research suicide methods.

The mother and son plunged to their deaths from the third level of the baseball stadium at 4.11pm on September 25 last year

Four months after their September 2021 deaths, San Diego police ruled the case a murder-suicide after ‘a thorough and comprehensive investigation.’ Cops are pictured at the scene

Browning, who was yards away when Wilkins and Browning-Wilkins fell over the railing, initially told police he wasn’t sure if she had jumped, but disclosed her behaviors in the days and weeks prior pointed toward suicide.

He told authorities she had seemed happy the day of the baseball game. 

However, police allege the pair had gotten into an argument the night before during which she reportedly whispered to Browning: ‘Why don’t you just kill us both?’ 

Investigators claim ‘both’ referred to herself and her son.

Browning disputes the allegation that he argued with his girlfriend and told officials that Wilkins had spent the evening crying, but they did not fight.

Police claim Wilkins (pictured) and Bowling got into an argument the night before her death. Browning disputes the allegation that he argued with his girlfriend and told officials that Wilkins had spent the evening crying, but they did not fight

Browning, speaking out for the first time more than 10 months after Wilkins and Wilkins-Browning (pictured) died, said it was time he came to terms with the fact that their death was a murder-suicide. ‘To honor Denzel and her is to really be truthful,’ he said

Four days after his initial interview, Browning told police he believed the plunge was intentional, citing how Wilkins has asked about the distance needed for fatal falls. 

He said she asked a similar question when they made it to the top of the pedestrian ramp at Section 320 of the stadium after looking over the edge. 

Browning also claimed she had requested the family take a photo together about ten minutes before her death, which he alleged was ‘uncommon’ for them.

Her family members, at the time of the incident, told investigators they were worried about Wilkins’ mental health and feared she was having a breakdown due to recent behaviors that were ‘sketchy’ and ‘off.’

Wilkins’ autopsy report also mentioned that she had been previously diagnosed with depression and anxiety.

Browning told police he thought Wilkins had a ‘character breakdown’ at the time of her death. He said over the last six months of her life ‘things were getting very unstable.’ San Diego police are pictured responding to the scene

‘I think she had a character breakdown. Things were getting very unstable,’ Browning said of Wilkins’ last six months alive. ‘Raquel was getting sicker and not able to get the help she needed.’

He said the visit to Petco Park was supposed to be a fun family outing, but Wilkins suddenly ‘freaked out’ while they were in the elevator and ran off.

They then opted the escalator instead, with him dragging their son’s stroller. The family looked at the ‘beautiful view’ near their section, took a photo together and then got snacks.

Wilkins and the toddler fell just minutes later. 

‘It was so quick, so fast,’ Browning said. ‘I looked over and she was on the bench and it was literally a split-second later. Both of them went over. It was very quiet. I was in complete shock.’ 

‘I loved her core,’ he added. ‘When people have a mental illness, something takes over their core.’ 

Browning, mourning his would-be three-year-old son, noted he was ‘beautiful and he was happy and he got the most out of life.’

‘I’m grateful for the years I had with him and I am sure I will see him again,’ he said.

A view from the ledge where Wilkins and her son fell three floors down to their deaths

In addition to her immediately family, others involved in Wilkins’ life said she was battling mental health issues before her death. Investigators are shown working the scene of her fall

In addition to her immediately family, others involved in Wilkins’ life said she was battling mental health issues before her death.

Wilkins had reportedly been back and forth in relationships with Browning and another man, identified in the documents as her ex-boyfriend.

The ex also spoke to police after her death, alleging that Wilkins had unexpectedly shared her GPS location with him that day. 

She sent him her location around 3pm, placing her at the baseball stadium, less than an hour before her death.

He told police when he heard news that a woman and child had plunged from the sports complex ‘he knew it was her.’

Police also claim the Padres received an anonymous tip from a man who said he wanted to share information with the MLB club that could help protect it from a wrongful death lawsuit.

The caller belittled Wilkins and claimed she had been talking about suicide. It’s unclear if police identified the tipster or followed up with him.

If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can call or text the National Suicide Hotline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255.