The bodies of three children and their mother were recovered from a lake north of St. Paul, Minnesota. Authorities said they are currently conducting a homicide investigation.
Around 10:30 a.m. local time on Friday, police were called to a report of a suicide in the town of Maplewood, a town just west of St. Paul. They found an elderly man dead at the scene, Maplewood Police Lt. Joe Steiner said at an evening news conference. He was identified as the father of the three children, the Associated Press reports.
The exact cause of death has not been released, and Steiner said it remains under investigation.
At approximately 4 p.m., police responded to Vadnais Lake on a report of a possible murder-suicide, Steiner said. Authorities began searching the lake for three children and a woman. Steiner said the lake’s response was “in relation” to the earlier incident, but did not elaborate.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher confirmed Friday evening that the body of a child has been found. The other was found overnight on Friday, and the third child and mother were found on Saturday. Officials said during a Saturday news conference that the children — two boys and a girl — are all small.
The medical examiner will perform autopsies on the bodies to determine the cause of death, officials said Saturday.
The children’s shoes were found in the lake, Fletcher said. Steiner said the mother’s vehicle was also found at the scene, along with other items that led authorities to believe they may have been in the area.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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