Mom with history of mental illness and her 3 children aged 2 to 8 found dead at a home in Michigan

A mother and her three young children were found dead of apparent gunshot wounds on Monday at a property in northern Kent County, Michigan. Her family has spoken out on who they think is responsible for the tragedy.

According to Wood TV, the bodies of two-year-old Alaina Rau, six-year-old Cassidy Rodery, eight-year-old Kyrie Rodery, and their mom, Aubrianne Moore, 28, were discovered around 3 pm at a property along 19 Mile Road near Division Avenue in Solon Township, northwest of Cedar Springs.

THE FAMILY SPEAKS

Although the authorities declined to confirm the deceased’s identities or relationship pending the autopsies, family members reportedly identified the mother and her children.

The family also believes that Moore killed her children and then herself. They added that she had a history of mental illness and spent time receiving treatment for the condition in a hospital last year.

THE AUTHORITIES SPEAK

Meanwhile, the Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young is in no hurry to rule the incident as a murder-suicide because it was too early in the investigation to determine that. She, however, assured the public that there was no threat of a shooter on the loose.

LaJoye-Young lamented the unfortunate incident, describing it as “horrific” while speaking to reporters:

"Very sad. Very, very sad. It's been very difficult for our investigators and I'm sure it is for the community as well. Certainly a horrific thing to be called to and my heart goes out to the families involved here and the community. We're certainly going to do everything we can to bring this to a quick resolution."

The authorities have indicated that there’s a second crime scene where the children were shot, but investigators do not know the exact location and have reached out to anyone with useful information.

ANOTHER MOTHER AND HER KIDS FOUND DEAD

In a related sad occurrence, a 37-year-old hairstylist, Nichol Olsen, and her two daughters, ten-year-old London and 16-year-old Alexa, were found dead with gunshot wounds at her boyfriend’s Texas home last month.

The case was initially ruled as a murder-suicide, but police officers began to suspect foul play and kept open an investigation into the deaths.

“In some cases, when the ME [Medical Examiner] rules suicide, there are other corroborating things. But in this instance, I don't have that,” said Sheriff Javier Salazar of the Bexar County Sheriff's Department. “I don't have a suicide note, a depressed phone call, a witness, I don't have any of these things.”