Investigators believe a man died by suicide after he allegedly killed his two children at a northern California home.
A 911 caller said they discovered the children, a 14-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy, in need of emergency medical attention at a home on Old River Road near Ukiah around 10:20 a.m. on Friday, October 9, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
Individuals at the home then “decided to transport the two juveniles in their vehicle to meet with emergency medical services,” the agency said in a Saturday, October 10, news release.
Medical personnel who met with the individuals near the Mendocino County Office of Education noticed the two siblings were unresponsive and had no pulse, according to authorities.
They were both declared dead after life-saving efforts.
“We are ankle deep in an investigation that we will be swimming in all day,” Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall told The Press Democrat while deputies were investigating the alleged crime scene following the 911 that morning.
When authorities visited the residence, they found a 44-year-old man dead inside the home, the sheriff’s office said. He was identified as the father of the two children.
After a search warrant was obtained, investigators spoke with family members, witnesses, other “involved” individuals and collected evidence in connection with the children’s deaths, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Initial evidence and interviews indicate the adult male killed the two children and then committed suicide at the residence,” the agency said.
The names of the father and his children weren’t released by authorities. Autopsies on the man and his kids have been scheduled to determine their official causes and manners of death.
The sheriff’s office said the father’s next-of-kin will be notified once they have an update.
“Investigators are still conducting interviews and gathering evidence related to this investigation, but a possible motive is not being released at this stage of the investigation,” the sheriff’s office also said.
Authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the local community.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Quincy Cromer told The Press Democrat “this was a very difficult situation for all involved.”
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