3 children found dead at home in Connecticut, mother found dead in backyard shed
The deaths of a 36-year-old Connecticut woman and her children were being investigated Thursday as three probable murders and a suicide, police said.
Danbury officers found the bodies of 12-year-old Junior Panjon, 10-year-old Joselyn Panjon, and 5-year-old Jonael Panjon inside their home after responding to a call from a distraught man, police said. The body of their mother, Sonia Loja, was later discovered inside a shed behind the home.
The children appear to have been strangled and Loja died from "asphyxia by hanging," police said in a statement.
The bodies were taken to the medical examiner's office in Farmington where autopsies are scheduled for Friday.
Police said there appears to be no threat to the general public.
Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito said in a release that the city and its school system plan to provide mental health and counseling services to children impacted by the deaths.
"Our community grieves for the innocent lives taken from us," he said in a statement. "We will get through this together."
Det. Capt. Mark Williams said the mayor's office and other agencies have coordinated efforts to provide services to the family and friends of the victims.
"As this is also an emotionally damaging incident for first responders, services have been extended to public safety personnel who responded to the scene," Williams said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victims."
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@nami.org.
