Woman, 2 children dead after "incident" in Ramsey park, authorities say
RAMSEY, Minn. — A woman and two children are dead after an "isolated incident" in a north metro park Monday morning, authorities said.
A welfare check brought the Anoka County Sheriff's Office and the Ramsey Police Department to Rum River Central Park just before 10 a.m., the sheriff's office said.
Responding authorities found two dead people — a woman and a girl — in a parked vehicle, along with an injured boy. The boy was hospitalized and later died, authorities said.
On Thursday, Anoka County identified the decedents as 33-year-old Jessica Frank, 9-year-old Solara Frank and 4-year-old Laiken Frank.
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In a letter sent to families at Twin Lakes Elementary School in Elk River, the school said it received sad news learning of the deaths of a third-grade student, her brother in pre-school and their mother.
They wrote, "Our hearts are with the [family] and all those impacted during this difficult time."
The school is offering support for students and staff through its mental health personnel.
"Which is really needed I'm sure. Really hard for those students and teachers, staff and everybody," Andover resident and mother Emily Swinney said.
Swinney and her son Joseph go to the playground near where it happened nearly every week.
"Your heart kind of sinks as a mom. I've got a daughter in college, and then I have a preschool, so just that initial mom reaction is really devastating," she said.
Authorities have not released many details surrounding the case but said it was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.
Multiple agencies are investigating.
Mental Health Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, get help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
In addition, help is available from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or text "HelpLine" to 62640. There are more than 600 local NAMI organizations and affiliates across the country, many of which offer free support and education programs.