Michigan mom drives car into river killing herself, two children in suspected double-murder suicide
A Michigan mom killed herself and her two children by driving her vehicle into the Kalamazoo River in what authorities believe is a double-murder suicide.
The deaths came to light after officers from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety responded to a Walgreens in the city at around 10:45 pm on Monday, June 17, after receiving a call from two young girls "who were upset and trying to locate their uncle," according to Detroit News.
While "the uncle was located and reunited with the two girls," the officers' attention turned to another family member who the girls claimed had driven her vehicle into the river with two of her children still inside.
"In speaking with the girls, officers learned a family member had driven her vehicle into the Kalamazoo River," a statement released by the department reads. "Officers were also advised the mother had her two children inside the vehicle when it plunged into the river."
The officers subsequently took a boat into the water at Verburg Park and started searching the area where the car was seen entering the water. Within minutes, they had found the submerged vehicle.
A few minutes after that, they found the bodies of the mother and one of the children. A Michigan State Police dive team responded to the scene in a bid to recover the vehicle itself as well as the body of a "third possible victim."
WSBT reported that the body of the second child was pulled from the Kalamazoo River on Tuesday. The Kalamazoo Forensics Crime Lab was at the scene to process evidence.
The names of the victims have not been made public, with police withholding the information until the identities are confirmed and next-of-kin are notified about the incident.
"The identities of all the victims are being held until a positive identification can be made, along with family notification," the statement read.
The department offered "condolences to all family and friends who have been impacted by this tragic loss."
Anyone with further information on the incident has been asked to (269) 488-8911 or Silent Observer at (269) 343-2100.