Police: Utah Family Dead in a Apparent Murder-Suicide

Stock photo of police tape. (Carl Ballou/Shutterstock)

A family of four in Mapleton, Utah, and their dog were found dead with gunshot wounds Thursday, Nov. 9, in what is believed to be a murder-suicide, local police report.

The bodies of an adult man, an adult woman, a teenage girl, and a young boy were discovered inside the home in Mapleton, Utah, Mapleton Police Chief John Jackson said in a press release. Officers went there after getting a call to check on them.

One of the family members hadn’t shown up for work, and the family’s cars had not moved for consecutive days. The light had been turned off for days, raising alarm with a neighbor, who called the police, Jackson said.

An investigation is currently underway.

The identities of those who were killed have not been released. Police have also not revealed a motive for the slayings.

“Once inside, officers found four individuals that were deceased from what appears to [have been] gunshot wounds,” Jackson said. “Also found deceased with a gunshot wound was a large dog.”

“Preliminary evidence suggests a murder suicide,” Jackson continued. “However that ruling will not be made until the medical examiner’s office has completed their examination and officers have had a chance to follow up on information collected at the scene.”

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