2 adults, 2 children found dead at San Mateo home after police welfare check
A welfare check at a home by San Mateo police Monday morning uncovered four dead bodies, triggering an investigation that has forced the closure of Alameda de las Pulgas, according to authorities.
San Mateo police issued an alert shortly after 11:30 a.m. Monday that officers were at the scene of a death investigation on the 4100 block of Alameda de las Pulgas. The investigation was reportedly triggered by a welfare check at the home in the Sugarloaf neighborhood.
Police said that Alameda de las Pulgas is closed in the northbound direction at 42nd Ave. and in the southbound direction at Fernwood St. Westbound 41st Ave. to Kelton Ct. is also closed. Residents are being asked to avoid the area.
During a press conference later Monday afternoon, San Mateo police said that they received a 911 call requesting a welfare check at the home at around 9:13 a.m.
Police said officers entered the home and located two adults - one male and one female -- and two young male children inside "with obvious signs of death."
Police said the deaths appear to be an isolated incident and the public is not in danger. Officers are still on scene for the ongoing investigation.
Police did not provide any information regarding the nature of the deaths. The victims have not been identified, so police were unable to say whether the four deceased were members of the same family.
Authorities were not able to provide any information regarding the nature of the deaths, though homicide detectives have been called to the scene to help investigate the incident.
Police did confirm that they are not looking for a suspect in connection with the deaths.
Neighbors were shocked by the grim discovery. Some reported hearing gunshots prior to the arrival of police.
"You hear it's an entire family and, of course, your mind goes to a place of what tragic event happened," said Ron Mifsud, who lives nearby.
On Tuesday, police confirmed that the man and woman were found dead in a bathroom from gunshot wounds and noted that "a 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine" were also found. The cause of death for the two young boys remains under investigation, authorities said.
On Thursday, San Mateo police identified the adults as Anand Henry and Alice Benzinger and children as the couple's two twin boys. Both Henry and Benzinger died of gunshot wounds and the investigation shows that Henry shot Benzinger multiple times and then shot himself, police said.
The San Mateo Police Department shared the below resources in the wake of the latest revelations in the tragic domestic violence case.
CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse)
24-hour hotline 1(800)300-1080
www.corasupport.org
San Mateo County Health-Mental Health Services
24/7 assistance 1(800)686-0101
www.smchealth.org/mental-health-services
StarVista
24/7 Crisis Hotline (650)579-0350
www.star-vista.org/programs/crisis-center/
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for help
988lifeline.org/