Community Mourns Loss Of Greenwood Family Killed In Murder-Suicide
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Family and friends are mourning the loss of a Twin Cities father, mother, and their three teenage children after they were all found dead in their Lake Minnetonka home Thursday.
Friends said police discovered Brian Short, his wife Karen, and their teenage children -- 17-year-old Cole, 15-year-old Madison, and 14-year-old Brooklyn -- dead in an apparent murder-suicide Thursday afternoon.
The family lived in a multi-million dollar home in the small community of Greenwood, on Lake Minnetonka.
One of Brian's co-workers asked police to check on the family Thursday after he hadn't shown up for work. The children also hadn't shown up for school during the week. Investigators went to check the family's home in Greenwood just before 12:30 p.m.
Police said the five bodies were scattered all over their large home and all had traumatic injuries. They calling the crime "unspeakable." However, investigators are not saying how they think the family died or who in the family may have been responsible.
Brian was a nurse and founded the website allnurses.com, which is headquartered in Excelsior. The company said it is a tragic loss for their extended families, co-workers, and the nursing community. They're asking people to post positive and uplifting comments on Facebook about Brian.
The family had lived in their Greenwood home a few years. Prior to that, they spent 13 years in Lakeville.
Friends of the family said they were good people and always opened their home to others.
All three teenagers attended Minnetonka High School. About 20 guidance counselors were at the school to help students if they need to talk on Friday.
Principal Jeff Erickson said this has been difficult for the entire community, but especially hard for students to process. He said the focus is supporting the students by offering them an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on.
Erickson said the school had a moment of silence for the family during morning announcements.
The school also emailed a statement to parents Thursday night. It acknowledged how difficult the event is for the close knit community, and said the district wants to respect the family's privacy and allow family and friends to grieve privately.
"Our Minnetonka High School family is devastated by the tragic deaths of a family in our community," the statement read. "Because we are a close-knit community, this is will be very upsetting for students, parents and staff alike."
The school also wants parents to contact them if they'd like their child to see a counselor to talk about what happened.
Community members have taken to Twitter using the hashtag #tonkastrong.
Sad day in Minnetonka. Praying for the family and their loved ones! ???????????? #TonkaStrong
— Dom Barber (@34dombarber) September 11, 2015
All my thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of the Short family, you are loved. #tonkastrong — Regan Anderson (@regananderson_) September 11, 2015
prayers going out to the Short family and and anyone who's lives they have touched tonight. #WeAreOne #tonkastrong ❤️⚓️
— Ellie (@ellie_spottke) September 11, 2015
RIP Brooklyn. We miss you like crazy. Play soccer with the angels. ???? #tonkastrong pic.twitter.com/CaoayuzFi5 — Toni Plante (@mamaplante) September 11, 2015
Users are posting thoughts, prayers and photos remembering the family during this time.