An “all-American” household of 4 was discovered useless of their Pennsylvania house in what officers suspect to be an “unthinkable” murder-suicide.
Pennsylvania State Police stated Paul Swarner, 35, his spouse, Karen Swarner, 32, and their two younger Evelyn, 5, and Connor, 1, have been found by Karen’s father Thursday evening at their Ruffsdale house after relations hadn’t been capable of get involved 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 stated in a press convention Friday.
“It’s unthinkable. It’s unfathomable,” Limani stated.
All 4 of the relations have 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 going on with Paul. I don’t know why it would have happened,” the trooper stated.
“I hope we’re able to find some answers. It’s extremely, extremely sad. I don’t know. I don’t know what’s worse.”
Limani shared that relations had spoken with the couple on Wednesdays, and for “all intents and purposes, there was not what you would consider strife or any type of concern or fear of endangerment or anything like that.”
“It was a normal conversation,” Limani stated.
Police revealed that that they had not discovered that Paul and Karen had any prison historical past or information of home violence incidents earlier than the tragic murder-suicide.
“They seem like they had very successful jobs,” Limani shared, including that it regarded like a “very loving household.”
“Their home was the all-American home. There were toys for the children.”
Limani stated the officers will do “everything they can to get answers to the family” and that investigators are working with the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Workplace to determine a timeline of when the tragedy occurred.
A neighbor of the Swarner household, Dick Shawley, stated that he wasn’t alerted of something on the house till police have been swarming the quiet neighborhood.
“I feel so bad,” Shawley stated, holding again tears whereas speaking with WTAE.
“I wasn’t family, but I tried to help as much as I could and I didn’t bother them. But if they needed help, I was there.”
The heartbroken neighbor shared that he gave the household’s two kids presents this previous Christmas and “played Santa” for them.
“They were always jumping around and happy,” he stated. “I’ll never get it out of my mind. Such devastation. Such preciousness life.”
If you happen to 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.
