Police believe the two parents and three children who were found dead in their home in Utah weeks ago were likely killed by poison, local media stations reported on Wednesday.
The family members, including children between the ages of 11 and 14, were found on September 27 in their home in Springville, about 45 miles south of Salt Lake City, Reuters reported.
The bodies of Benjamin and Kristi Strack and their children Benson (14), Emery (12) and Zion (11) were found in a locked room, each lying next to a cup of colored red liquid, the New York Times reported.
Empty bottles of nighttime cold medicine and methadone were found in a trash can, as well as a red substance in Pepsi cups, a purple bucket with yellow liquid, marijuana, and sleeping pills, New York Daily News reported.
Police have not said who killed the family members or whether the parents may have been involved. Toxicology results have not found the exact cause of death. Toxicology results are expected in late November. Springville Police Lt. Dave Caron said he could not speculate on the cause of death until toxicology tests are complete.
[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Dave Caron” author_title=”Springville Police Lt.”]
Until I get those (toxicology results), I really don’t have anything. I could come up with all sorts of theories, but it’s not helpful.
[/quote]
Police said some of the bodies appeared to have been positioned after death. The bodies were discovered by the couple’s older son and Kristi Strack’s mother.
Kristi Strack was last seen alive at 6 am by the older son’s girlfriend, who lived in the home. The girlfriend said she spoke with the woman and went back to sleep, adding that the house was quiet when she left with the older son in the afternoon. When they returned at 8 pm and found the master bedroom door locked, they called Kristi Strack’s mother who helped force the door open.
