Police: 3 Deaths In Oakdale Double Murder-Suicide
OAKDALE, Minn. (WCCO) -- Police are still interviewing witnesses and neighbors to figure out what led to the violent deaths of three people in Oakdale Thursday.
Officers believe it was a double murder-suicide. Investigators found a gun and ammunition inside the home and say they aren't looking for suspects.
A relative identified the three dead as 32-year-old Jamie Anival Almaras Velasquez, his significant other, 28-year-old Cintia Guadalupe Ornelas Bustos, and their 43 year old babysitter Angela Uscanga Gonzalez. All three died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to Oakdale Police.
Velasquez and Ornelas have three children. Police say they don't know if the couple was married.
The couple's 6-year-old daughter found them dead in the house after returning from school. Her nanny was also dead. A neighbor called police and reported a lot of blood inside the home.
The girl's 3-year-old brother was in the home at the time when it happened. His sister found him watching TV. Police believe the little boy may have heard everything.
A third child, an 8-year-old son, was just coming home from school, but never went inside the home.
The children went to a neighbor's house and the 3-year-old told neighbors that his dad killed his mommy and that's when police were contacted.
A neighbor, Julie Hartman, said the children were heartbroken and so concerned because they didn't know where they were going to live.
"(The 6-year-old) went into her house and found her mom and dad dead, and she didn't know the nanny was in there dead too," said Hartman. "I consoled the kids and it was so sad. All three of the kids … I just held them. I didn't know what else to do, but it was very sad. I just held them and they cried — their mommy and daddy are dead, their mommy and daddy are dead."
Police: 3 Deaths In Oakdale Double Murder Suicide
Police said all three kids are staying with another family member and are undergoing counseling through their schools and social services.
Uscanga has three adult children, according to her nephew Freddy Cortez-Uscanga.
"She was a devoted Christian woman. She loved children which is why she became a nanny. She a was a good caring and respectful person," he said.
Cortez-Uscanga said she had just started working for the family a few months ago. She met them at church.
Velasquez and Ornelas were seen at church together the night before their deaths.
Police said the couple were allegedly having relationship trouble. Family said they may have been going through some counseling. Vasquez had just returned to Minnesota after living a few months in Guatamala, where he was originally from.
Ornelas' nephew, Cesar Zagal, said that they had been together for nearly 10 years.
"She was really nice, friendly, and generous," said Zagal. "We really cared for her and are really sad."
Police say Velasquez assaulted a roommate in that home three years ago, in September of 2008, but it wasn't one of the victims in the case.
