Ottawa police are investigating the deaths of two young boys found inside a home in the south Ottawa neighbourhood of Findlay Creek, in a case that investigators believe to be a double homicide-suicide. Officers were carrying out a wellness check at a residence on Mandevilla Crescent around 10 a.m. on Monday when they discovered the bodies of the two children inside.
The boys, aged 7 and 12 and believed to be brothers, were found at the home. Police said the body of an adult male, identified as the children's father, was later found in a burned vehicle. Investigators believe the father died by suicide, though authorities cautioned that they are still working to establish the full chronology of events and have not confirmed exactly what happened.
Police described the case in stark terms, saying that from the trauma and the evidence they could clearly conclude it was a double homicide, and that they believe it was a double homicide-suicide. At this stage, however, investigators said it is not clear precisely how the two boys died, and that determination remains part of the ongoing investigation.
The Ontario Provincial Police are assisting Ottawa investigators by securing two separate scenes believed to be connected to the case. One is the scene of a fire at a business in Iroquois, Ontario, reported earlier on Monday. The other is a vehicle fire at the Kemptville carpool lot near Highway 416 and Rideau River Road, which was reported shortly after 5:30 a.m.
Authorities stressed that the investigation remains in its early stages and that several elements, including the timeline linking the home, the vehicle and the two fire scenes, have yet to be confirmed. Police said they were not prepared to draw firm conclusions about the sequence of events until the evidence at each location has been fully examined.
The identities of the two boys and their father are not being released at this time, as investigators work to notify the next of kin. Police appealed for patience and privacy for those affected, and asked anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward as the community in Findlay Creek comes to terms with the loss.