Crime & Safety

Caledonia Mom Killed in Spa Shooting Loved by Her Customers

Students across Racine staged a 'purple out' on Monday in the memory of the mother of two Horlick students. Cary Robuck was remembered as a "gentle, sweet and soft-spoken" friend, mother and nail technician.

**Updated 12:30 p.m.

The Waukesha County Medical Examiner Monday afternoon confirmed that Caledonia resident Cary Robuck is among the victims from the Brookfield spa shooting Sunday.

The deceased are Zina Haughton, estranged wife of the shooter; Robuck; and Maelyn Lind of Oconomowoc. Autopsies are expected to be conducted sometime today, the report says.

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Robuck was the 34-year-old mother of two Racine Horlick High School cheerleaders. She was killed when .

Haughton killed three and injured four - all women - before killing himself.

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Officials have not released the names of the four women sent to Froedtert Hospital undergoing treatment for their injuries, one of whom was released Monday. Before the ME released the names of the dead, Patch readers on Facebook were posting messages about Robuck.

"RIP Cary. Very sad.. she was a proud mom and truly a wonderful and kind person. My deepest sympathies to her family," posted a reader.

Amy Mordja worked with Robuck at Foot & Ankle Specialists in Mount Pleasant where Robuck was a nail technician. She said Robuck was a good friend who was loved by her clients.

"Cary was gentle, sweet and soft-spoken," Mordja said. "She was very popular with her clients. They really loved her. She was supposed to work today, actually."

Robuck worked at Azana in Brookfield as well as the location in Mount Pleasant and had recently quit a third job, Mordja added, in order to spend more time with her daughter. She also said they had a lot in common because of their dogs.

"She had a boxer named Addison that she spoiled rotten," Mordja continued. "We used to talk about our dogs a lot. I'll really miss her."

According to a story from The Journal Times, family members gathered together Sunday night to wait for word on whether or not Robuck was among the victims. Robuck was supposed to have spent yesterday with her grandfather but was instead called into work at Azana.

Patch reached out to Robuck's family, but we were told they are no longer giving interviews.

"(We) will not be giving interviews at this time and no one will be speaking officially for the family," we were told.

However, several neighbors were shocked to learn that Robuck was one of the victims.

Ron Glass, a neighbor who lived down the street from Robuck, said he would often see Robuck out walking her dog.

"She was friendly and outgoing, and she always willing to stop and say 'Hi,'" Glass said. "She was a bubbly person and I'm very sorry to hear this news."

Regis Brown, also a neighbor, said the same thing.

"Her dog would always come to me, and she was always up for a chat," Brown said. "This is shocking. She was only 34 and I just talked to her a week ago."

Brown added that Robuck had a lot to live for and that she seemed like a "fun loving person that was easy to talk to."

Robuck is also the stepmother of another Horlick cheerleader.

Racine Unified School District spokeswoman Stacy Tapp said the district is working to put resources in place for students.

"We will be sure we have in place for students the help they might need to cope with the situation," she said.

Twitter exploded Sunday night with youth at Racine Horlick High School planning a "purple out" in honor of two cheerleaders whose mother they said died in the Brookfield shooting. Students who are participating will be wearing purple clothing.

Students across the city are planning to wear purple Monday in support of the students who lost their mother. There is also a planned moment of silence at 5 p.m. at Lockwood Park, corner of Ohio and Graceland, for those participating in the "purple out."

From Twitter, Patch pulled these tweets:

@MariahSturm (Junior. Horlick. Cheerleading.) tweeted: Thank you everyone for being here for me....just to let everyone one know my mom did not make it today.

@k_baee (Kira Scheffler) tweeted: honestly can't thank everyone enough for the support me @mariahsturm and our family need it more than anything in the whole world #weloveyou

@RoseyRosquist tweeted: Two Horlick cheerleaders lost their mom today in the brookfield shooting. Racine is wearing purple to show support. Can u too?

Pockets of students at Park High School wore purple today, and Tapp confirmed that a good portion of the Horlick student body was also wearing purple today. A St. Catherine's spokesperson told The Journal Times that students there, too, were wearing purple.


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