Police: Mother and 4 Children Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide in Tennessee

A mother and her four children died Monday evening in what authorities suspect is a murder-suicide, according to a Tuesday report from The Tennessean. A family member found the five yet-unidentified bodies of the Columbus, Tennessee, family in their home. “It’s a beautiful home, and nothing would indicate otherwise except for what has happened here this afternoon,” said Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland, who noted that there had been no previous reports of violence at that address. Among the victims are three young girls and a young boy, all of whom were homeschooled. The investigation is ongoing, The Tennessean notes, but the sheriff’s office does not believe there is a continued threat to the community. “I’d ask our community to lift the rest of this family and friends up in prayer and be respectful of the family as well because they’re victims in this,” Rowland said, “and they’re going to have to learn how to deal with this and live life without their loved ones.”