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Michael Haight: Outrage as Utah man who killed wife and 5 children is replaced with Jesus in obituary pic

Michael Haight killed his wife Tausha, mother-in-law Gail, daughters Macie, Briley, Sienna, and sons Ammon and Gavin

ENOCH, UTAH: A picture in the GoFundMe campaign that was set up to meet the funeral expenses for Gail Earl, Tausha Haight, and her five children has sparked outrage online. The picture previously included Michael Haight, Tausha's husband and father of the five children, who allegedly killed them and later killed himself. However, his picture has now been replaced with an image of Jesus. 

According to Daily Mail, Haight is said to have embarked on the slaughter after Tausha requested a divorce. His family also released an obituary for Haight, which also received criticism online. 

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Haight's obituary

The obituary read, "Michael Orwin Haight was born on January 7, 1980 in Seattle, Washington to Robin and Brenda Haight. After his dad finished dental school in 1981, the family moved to Cedar City, Utah. In his youth, Michael loved spending time participating in city league baseball, basketball, soccer, various outdoor and scouting activities. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Michael excelled at everything he did, graduating from Cedar High School in 1998 where he was the Sterling scholar in business."

It added, "Michael was called and served a full-time mission to Porto Alegre South, Brazil for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He loved the people he met on his mission and had many fond memories of his time spent there." After the mission, he took business classes at Southern Utah University and graduated in 2004. He was apparently named the Outstanding Finance Student for the School of Business. It was during this time he met Tausha Earl, in their student ward. The couple got married in the St Ger Temple on May 10, 2003, according to the obituary. 

The obituary explained, "Together they welcomed 5 children into their family: Macie Lynn, Briley Ann, Ammon Michael, Sienna Belle, and Gavin Drew. Each of these children were truly a cherished miracle to them." Michael "enjoyed making memories with the family" and "spent many evenings and Saturdays coaching the children's city league sporting teams, attending the children's concerts at school, going on side-by-side rides, doing home-improvement projects, sledding and much more," it noted, adding he "lived a life of service."

The obituary also noted Michael owned and operated a successful insurance agency but recently sold his business to spend "quality time" with his family. He is survived by his mother Brenda and siblings Bryan, Tamara "Mike" Twitchell, Jennifer "Doug" Kerksiek and grandparents Orwin and Velda Gubler. "[We] would like to express a special thank you to those in the community who have reached out with their love and support and all who have helped in any way. You are very much appreciated," the family added in the obituary. 

GoFundMe campaign for the Haight family

The GoFundMe campaign run by Heather Ott and Stacha Westbrook has so far received $94,842 out of its $150,000 goal. The campaign note stated, "It is with the heaviest hearts that we share the passing of Gail Earl, Tausha Haight, and her 5 beautiful children. Their lives were tragically taken too soon. All who knew them loved them so very much. There are no words to describe the heartache we feel. They will be missed immensely by their family, friends, neighbors, classmates and community. The funds will go towards any funeral expenses if needed, legal fees, and a memorial fund in honor of Tausha’s children."

'The whole family is sick'

The Internet was outraged the killer had been replaced by Jesus. A user said, "This is gross — so centered on the murderer and not the innocent family. The family is using religion for cover but my LDS friends would not remotely condone any of this including centering and excusing the perpetrator." Another added, "Delusional!!!!! Absolutely bonkers!!." "This is bulls**t. They worship a cruel God, not loving, that thinks this is OK," stated another. A user claimed, "Another great example why I will never belong to an organized religion or cult cuz that's what they are." Another commented, "Quality time with the family = blowing their heads off? Huh. Weird. Me, I just take mine for a drive in the mountains, for quality time as a family."

A user wrote, "Oh, hell no! I just went and looked at the GFM page. They are up to $93k. I'm not saying the family doesn't need help or our sympathy, but that is creepy. Mormonism is one religion I do not agree with at all." Another added, "Thoroughly disgusting. That GFM should be reported for fraud. I'd rather donate to @MomsDemand or @sandyhook & do it in the memory of those poor children." A user noted, "His family did the GoFundMe and obituary. The whole family is sick. You would think he died trying to save his family, from a house fire and they all perished."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.