A Californian woman shot and killed her family, her three dogs, and set the house on fire before turning the gun on herself, according to police.
Police said Teresa Mae Wilson, 68, from Bella Vista shot her family—husband, Gary Lynn Wilson, 69, son, Ellis Leroy Wilson II, 44, and daughter-in-law, Zoe Lynn Wilson, 20, who is married to Ellis—on Jan. 7.
Shasta County sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Jackson said other family members indicated that “long-term tension” at the home may have been the cause of why Teresa committed the acts. However, authorities are still investigating what could have led to the shootings.
The three victims were found with multiple gunshot wounds and were likely dead before Teresa set the house on fire, the sergeant said.
Along with the family, the 68-year-old also shot dead the three family dogs, while two cats died from smoke inhalation.
Firefighters responded to the blaze about 5 p.m. Jan. 7, but authorities are not certain when the killings took place. Investigators found that the house was deliberately set on fire in a northwest room of the house and signs of smoke inhalation discovered during Teresa’s autopsy indicate that she was alive when the fire started, reported the newspaper. The autopsy also shows that Teresa died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Authorities found a burnt .380-caliber semi-automatic gun “known to belong to Teresa” in her lap when they discovered her body, reported the newspaper, citing Jackson.
Jackson said “no evidence or information has been discovered that any other person(s) are responsible for the deaths and fire,” reported Detroit Free Press.
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