An “all-American” household of 4 was discovered lifeless of their Pennsylvania residence in what officers suspect to be an “unthinkable” murder-suicide.
Pennsylvania State Police mentioned Paul Swarner, 35, his spouse, Karen Swarner, 32, and their two younger Evelyn, 5, and Connor, 1, had been found by Karen’s father Thursday evening at their Ruffsdale residence after members of the family hadn’t been in a position to get in touch with them, in accordance with WTAE.
Investigators consider Paul Swarner fatally shot his spouse of 10 years and their two kids earlier than turning the gun on himself, State Trooper Steve Limani mentioned in a press convention Friday.
“It’s unthinkable. It’s unfathomable,” Limani mentioned.
All 4 of the members of the family had been present in the identical room, and a Ruger 22 handgun — the weapon investigators consider was utilized by the daddy of two to kill his household and self — was recovered from the scene.
“I don’t know what was happening with Paul. I don’t know why it could have occurred,” the trooper mentioned.
“I hope we’re capable of finding some solutions. It’s extraordinarily, extraordinarily unhappy. I don’t know. I don’t know what’s worse.”
Limani shared that members of the family had spoken with the couple on Wednesdays, and for “all intents and functions, there was not what you’d think about strife or any sort of concern or worry of endangerment or something like that.”
“It was a traditional dialog,” Limani mentioned.
Police revealed that they’d not discovered that Paul and Karen had any felony historical past or information of home violence incidents earlier than the tragic murder-suicide.
“They appear like they’d very profitable jobs,” Limani shared, including that it appeared like a “very loving family.”
“Their residence was the all-American residence. There have been toys for the kids.”
Limani mentioned the officers will do “all the things they will to get solutions to the household” and that investigators are working with the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Workplace to determine a timeline of when the tragedy happened.
A neighbor of the Swarner household, Dick Shawley, mentioned that he wasn’t alerted of something on the residence till police had been swarming the quiet neighborhood.
“I really feel so unhealthy,” Shawley mentioned, holding again tears whereas speaking with WTAE.
“I wasn’t household, however I attempted to assist as a lot as I might and I didn’t trouble them. But when they wanted assist, I used to be there.”
The heartbroken neighbor shared that he gave the household’s two kids presents this previous Christmas and “performed Santa” for them.
“They had been all the time leaping round and completely satisfied,” he mentioned. “I’ll by no means get it out of my thoughts. Such devastation. Such preciousness life.”
In case you or somebody you recognize is affected by any of the problems raised on this story, name the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or textual content Disaster Textual content Line at 741741.
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