The Sheriff of Craven Chip Hughes reported that Vanceboro (North Carolina) man killed his wife, three children and family dog, then shot himself.
On Monday morning, Hughes told the tragic situation, have excited local residents.
“We’ve had a very emotional week here.” CravenCo Sheriff says deputies found a family of five plus the family’s dog dead in an apparent murder-suicide. #ABC11 pic.twitter.com/JcQwz55l9y
— Elaina Athans (@AthansABC11) January 27, 2020
«As far as I know, the County Craven had never experienced such senseless deaths of innocent people, said Hughes. Officers with more than 40 years of experience describe it as one of the most horrific crimes in his career.»
Investigators arrived at the house in Cinco Court (Vanceboro) on Friday, January 24, after they received a call from family members concerned that a medium to contact their loved ones.
Man killed wife, 3 children and family dog before killing self in Craven County, deputies say | https://t.co/AAOiniywAn https://t.co/YHRhwyMm8S
— ElleMullmax❌ (@ElleMullinax) January 27, 2020
Police districts Craven said that all doors to the house were locked and there were no signs of forced entry. However, the officers looked in the window and saw the body inside the house.
When the police entered the house, they found a heartbreaking scene.
«Our thoughts and prayers are with all the relatives of this family,» said Hughes.
In the living room of the house police found four bodies. 26-year-old April island and her 8-month-old daughter Karen were on the same sofa. On their bodies were clearly visible gunshot wounds. Two young boys, April 4-year-old Michael Jason and 3-year-old Bryson, was discovered shot to death on the other sofa.
Sheriff Hughes says Michael Jay Ireland shot and killed his wife, April, their three children and the family’s dog at their home on Kinsaw Court before killing himself. https://t.co/Sf1TNWclT7
WEAR ABC 3 (@weartv) January 27, 2020
The master bedroom of the house, the police found a home shot the dog, and next to her — 39-year-old Michael ray island. The man had a gunshot wound to the head. According to preliminary version, he killed his family and shot himself.
Officials say there were no signs of a struggle or suicide note, and they don’t know yet where the island took up arms.
The autopsy of all victims were held on Sunday. Investigators are awaiting final autopsy reports.
Hughes said that it is unclear exactly when the crime happened. He said it happened sometime between Wednesday and Friday.
“Sheriff Hughes says Michael Jay Ireland, 39, shot and killed his wife, April, their three children and the family’s dog at their home on Kinsaw Court before killing himself.” https://t.co/pHYBgFHKWA
— 🌊Sci-FiGeek1966🌊 (@Jenkins100Rose) January 27, 2020
According to reports about incidents in the home Island police were called out six times in the period from 2015 to 2017.
Police reports indicated that Michael J. The island was arrested in January 2015 for assaulting a female and wilful and wanton damage to personal property. In November of the same year, according to the documents, who called 911 reported that the island had locked his wife in the house, and the couple shouted at each other. In reporting the incidents also stated that in January 2016 called the police at that address in connection with the attack on the woman and the message about the threat.
In August 2019 April island has created a GoFundMe page for the family, stating that her husband was in the hospital because «he hurts himself and is very sick mentally». She asked for financial assistance to pay for medical expenses and other bills.
According to ABC, Jackie Tripp, mother, April, said she felt something was wrong when I woke up on Friday. But she certainly did not expect such a tragedy.
According to Tripp, the family of her daughter often faced with financial problems, but April was sure the children were clothed and fed, even if it was required to sell the latter.
«She would have spent every dollar on these kids and nothing ever would have spent on himself, said his mother and aunt April. — She loved her children with all my heart».
As for the children, then, according to their grandmother, Bryson and Michael was a restless kids, who loved their mother and each other more than anything.
