Woman, 2 Children Dead In Apparent Murder-Suicide: Joliet Police
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Police are currently investigating an apparent murder-suicide of a woman and her two 5-year-old daughters who were found dead Monday inside a southwest suburban Joliet home.
About 3:08 p.m., officers responded to a death investigation at a home in the 400 block of North Reed Street in Joliet, according to a statement from Joliet police. When officers arrived they were met by a family member who directed them inside the home where the bodies of an adult female and two small children were located.
The incident is currently being investigated as a murder-suicide, police said.
The medical examiner will perform autopsies on the mother, 41-year-old Celisa Henning and her twin 5-year-old daughters, Makayla and Addison Henning on Tuesday.
Neighbors said the father found his family dead in their home and called 911. A woman who lives across the street said she just saw the twins a few days ago, when she gave them a gift to celebrate the beginning of kindergarten.
"I happened to come across an art pack of pencils that had strawberries on them - and I wrote them a little note to wish them a happy school year and hopefully they would become great artists and love drawing and the pencils would make them smile and come see me," said neighbor, Adele Bryant.
Neighbors told CBS 2 they are shocked by the tragedy.
"This is an on-going investigation into a very tragic incident and at this time we are not prepared to comment on the cause of death," Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton said.
Mayor Bob O'Dekirk stated, "I'd like to extend my condolences to the family and friends."
