A Utah mother fatally shot her three young children before turning the gun on herself, authorities said Friday.
The bodies of Maribel Ibarra, 32, and her three kids — a 4-year-old boy and two girls, ages 1 and 2 — were found inside a vehicle in West Haven, some 40 miles north of Salt Lake City, late Tuesday night.
According to the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, a family member who found the four bodies notified authorities just before 10 p.m.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they confirmed four people were dead and clearly “beyond help,” Sgt. Sean Endsley said Wednesday, without releasing additional details.
On Friday, Weber County Sheriff’s Lt. Terance Lavely announced at a press conference that the deaths of Ibarra and her children were the result of a murder-suicide.
“Based on video evidence, physical evidence, witness statements and interviews with family members, detectives believe that this was a tragic incident of murder-suicide,” Lavely told reporters.
No other person is believed to be involved in the fatal shootings, detectives said. They believe Ibarra “shot her three children in the rear cargo area of her vehicle” and then shot herself. The weapon was located inside the car.
While investigators are not clear on when exactly the shots were fired, Lavely said investigators believe the shooting occurred late Sunday night or in the early hours of Monday.
In a written statement shared with reporters after the press conference, the victims’ family expressed shock at the tragic news, saying they unaware that Ibarra was struggling with her mental health.
“We do not the know the exact reasons why this tragedy happened, and we deeply regret it,” the family said. “This pain is something we wish no one would ever have to go through. Therefore, we urge all those going through difficult times to seek help; please never hide your pain.”
Neighbors were equally shocked to learn the news.
“She seemed super, super happy. Very outgoing gal. Super nice,” Darren King, who lives next door to Ibarra, told local station KSL.
Taira Jacobson, who lives across the street, said Ibarra was always kind and would chat with her at the mailbox.