Man and woman died of gunshot wounds in San Mateo home where 2 children also found dead
Police in San Mateo on Tuesday confirmed that the man and woman who were found dead in a home on Alameda de las Pulgas along with the bodies of two children Monday morning died from gunshot wounds.
Authorities made the grim discovery at the home Monday shortly after 9:15 a.m. while officers were conducting a welfare check due to a call received by the police department. The bodies of the two adults were found along with those of two young boys.
"The male and female were located deceased from gunshot wounds inside a bathroom. A 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine were also found in the bathroom," police said in an updated press release.
Police also said the two children were found deceased inside a bedroom. Police said the cause of the children's deaths is still under investigation.
"The children did not have any gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, they were found deceased, so that will be part of the autopsy, to figure out the cause of [the children's] death," San Mateo police public information officer Jerami Surratt said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference.
The San Mateo County Crime Lab was called to the scene and assisted officers with evidence collection. The San Mateo County Coroner took custody of the four bodies and is working to identify each person and notify next of kin.
Police said on Monday that the deaths appeared to be an isolated incident and there was no sign of forced entry at the home. Police said that there was no danger to the public as authorities were "confident the person responsible was located within the home."
The investigation is ongoing as detectives "work to gather evidence, speak to witnesses and family members, and determine a possible motive."
Surratt noted that police were called to the home a few times in the past, but said he did not know what the calls were about.
He also spoke briefly on the affect the deaths have had on the responding officers and the community at large.
"It's a very difficult thing for everyone. This is a horrible crime that doesn't happen often, thankfully," said Surratt. "It impacts the family, the community, the officers and everyone that deals with this. And I'm sure the public is feeling the tragedy of this event."
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 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/
