Murder-Suicide That Left 4 Dead Shocks Modesto Neighborhood
MODESTO (CBS13) — A murder-suicide investigation is underway in Modesto after police say a man killed his family, then himself.
The shootings happened in a home on Sharilyn Drive.
A family photo collage shows the good times, but loved ones say Steve Mingham, a retired schoolteacher and part-time contractor, was recently under a lot of pressure at home.
Police say on Thursday night, Mingham shot three family members to death and took his own live.
That day, Mingham called his brother Joe, saying things just got worse.
"He said, 'Joe, I just killed my wife Jan, my son, and my daughter. And I'm going to kill myself. Take care of my dogs. Click," Joe said.
He had no chance to respond. Officers were already on the way. They found three people shot dead in the home—Steve Mingham, his wife Jan, and his son Chad. His daughter Nicole made it out alive in critical condition, but would die on Friday at the hospital.
Joe Mingham says his brother was troubled and had financial problems. His children, both in their 30s lived at home. Nicole was disabled, and Chad ran into trouble with the law.
Jan, however kept the family together, according to Joe. But he says his brother showed no signs he was capable of murder.
"He was a good dad he took good care of his daughter. He took good care of his son," he Joe said.
Michael Lamanet, who has lived across the street from Steve Mingham for at least a decade, shares the same sentiment.
"He'd give you the shirt off his back. Just a wonderful guy," he said.
They've been friends the entire time and always wanted to going hunting together. In fact, Lamanet says that's why Mingham kept guns at the house.
"He was a hunter and liked to target practice," Lamanet said.
He says Mingham's house looked a lot different Friday—blood smeared on the door, flowers and cards on the doorstep, and loved ones trying to make sense of a family tragedy.