Mom finds 5-year-old son and his father dead in murder-suicide, Florida deputies say

A mom picking up her 5-year-old son from his dad’s house entered the home and found both of them dead, Florida authorities said.

Investigators said they died in a murder-suicide.

The morning of Nov. 29, a woman called 911 to request a welfare check because she was trying to pick up her son but couldn’t get in touch with the boy or his father, whom she was separated from, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies went to the home in Lutz and found the door locked, but they didn’t notice any “immediate signs of concern” and left, deputies said in a news release.

The mom was able to get into the home a couple hours later and discovered her son and his father dead, according to investigators.

She called 911 again, and investigators’ preliminary investigation revealed that the 44-year-old dad killed his son, then himself, deputies said.

“Tragedies like this have a profound impact on everyone involved, including our deputies who responded to such a devastating scene right after Thanksgiving,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “We are committed to providing support to both the grieving family and our deputies as they process this difficult situation.”

Up to 600 murder-suicides happen each year, according to the FBI. They account for about 1,000 deaths a year.

“Although uncommon, such incidents vary widely in terms of the persons involved, how they are related, and where the crimes take place,” the FBI reported. “Usually, law enforcement personnel deal with murder-suicides involving two people in domestic settings or relationships.”

About 65% of murder-suicides involve intimate partners, officials said, and 81% happen in the home.

Lutz is about a 15-mile drive north from Tampa.

This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 3:44 PM with the headline "Mom finds 5-year-old son and his father dead in murder-suicide, Florida deputies say."