‘Triple Homicide’: Bodies of Mom, Three Kids Found in Minnesota Lake

A horrific family tragedy unfolded in Minnesota on Friday, with police reporting that a father was found dead of an apparent suicide before the bodies of a mother and her three kids were found in a lake.

Authorities from an array of law enforcement and rescue agencies worked through the night to recover all four bodies, said Undersheriff Mike Martin of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office in a Saturday press conference.

The tragedy leaves five dead in total, Martin said, including the parents, a boy and two girls. None of the victims have been identified, and the bodies were found at different times.

“A horrible set of facts appears to be developing,” Sheriff Bob Fletcher told reporters.

The first body was found at a mobile home park around 10:30 a.m. Friday after reports of a suicide in Maplewood, Minnesota. Though he didn’t specify why, Martin said officers began a fervent search of the man’s children and their mother.

The sheriff’s office was called to assist in the search, which led deputies to Vadnais Lake on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. by tracking the mother’s phone.

Upon arrival, Deputies took to the water with sonar-equipped boats—both their own and from neighboring agencies—as well in helicopters with spotlights from above, Martin said.

The first body—one of the children—was found on the east side of the lake around 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The next child’s body wouldn’t be found until after midnight, Martin said. Then, with sunlight back on their side, authorities recovered the mother’s body at 10:40 a.m. Saturday and the third child just 20 minutes later.

“Our hearts go out to the families involved here and their friends,” said Martin. “Our goal was to find the children and the mother and to return them to their families and we’re glad we were able to do that.”

Vadnais Lake, which doesn’t allow boats recreationally, has a total area just under 400 acres. Martin said the bodies were found in separate areas because of lake currents.

Local TV station WCCO reported that the mother’s car and shoes belonging to her and the children—all under the age of 5—were found near the lake.

Authorities had not released any more details about the father’s death on Saturday of what Fletcher called “a likely triple homicide” at the lake.