The extended family of Renee Good called for accountability in her death while urging public debate to be guided by empathy and care for the grieving family. Relatives praised Good as a devoted mother and remembered her late husband, Timmy Macklin Jr., and asked for privacy and protection for Good's three children, including a six-year-old who is now orphaned. The family deliberately avoided inflammatory political language and thanked supporters while urging compassion and meaningful change.
‘Unimaginable Loss’: Renee Good’s Family Urges Empathy While Seeking Justice
Renee Good with her family in this handout picture.Photograph: Courtesy of Renee Good's family
Renee Good’s extended family on Monday called for accountability in her death while urging public discussion to be guided by humanity, empathy and care for the family most affected. Authorities have said the incident involved an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, but the family’s public statement deliberately avoided naming agencies or inflaming political debate.
Family Statement
In a written statement and interviews with the Guardian, relatives — most of them family members of Good’s late husband, Timmy Macklin Jr. — praised Renee as a devoted mother and a person full of heart. The family said they hoped the 'unimaginable loss' would lead to meaningful change so that fewer families endure similar pain.
'We are speaking with care, clarity, and love,' said Jessica Fletcher, Good's sister-in-law, who drafted the statement. 'There's been so much hateful rhetoric back and forth, and what's been missed is painting a picture of who Renee was.'
Remembering Renee and Timmy
Relatives described Good as 'an extraordinary mother, devoted, fiercely loving, and always putting her children at the center of the world.' They also remembered Timmy Macklin Jr., an Air Force veteran who died in 2023 at age 36 after struggles with post-traumatic stress and other mental health challenges. The family said raising their child together and building a life with Renee had made Timmy's final years the best he ever had.
Privacy For The Children
The statement singled out Good's youngest son, now six and effectively orphaned, and asked for privacy, protection and care for all three children as they begin to navigate life without their mother. The family emphasized that the children's wellbeing is their foremost concern.
On Protests, Video And The Investigation
The relatives thanked those who have protested, spoken out and held space for the family but purposely used general language rather than joining the polarizing debate. The statement made no specific mention of the Trump administration's attempts to label Good a domestic terrorist, the video footage of her final moments that some officials have called evidence of 'murder,' or the FBI-led inquiry that, as reported, currently does not include Minnesota law enforcement.
Jessica Fletcher said the family's careful wording was intentional: 'I don't want to open it up into this huge fight with the opposing side. That would just be pouring more gasoline on the fire. But not saying something is political, too.'
What the Family Hopes For
Family members expressed a desire for accountability, compassion, and meaningful change. They urged that conversations about Renee's death be rooted in empathy and respect for the family most affected, asking supporters and the wider public to honor her memory by protecting her children and working toward justice without dehumanizing rhetoric.
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