Man, woman and 2 children dead in Stafford County triple murder-suicide

STAFFORD, Va. - Four people were found dead in a murder-suicide at a home in a Stafford County neighborhood Thursday morning, officials said.

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office said a 35-year-old man, a 30-year-old woman, a 5-year-old girl and an 18-month-old girl were discovered inside a house on Wilderness Court in the Windsor Forest Subdivision.

It is not clear exactly when the murders and suicide took place, but police were called out to the home Thursday at around 9 a.m.

The victims have not been identified as the Stafford County Sheriff's Office is still working to notify relatives. However, FOX 5 has learned one of the victims temporarily went missing last year.

A sheriff's office spokesperson said there were no signs of forced entry into the home and there is no danger to the public. She called this a very delicate situation and provided no further details on this case while refusing to take any questions from the media.

Detectives continued to search for evidence into the evening hours even after the medical examiner arrived. The causes of death are unknown at this time.

Neighbors said they are shocked by the incident. They also told FOX 5 that they did not recall hearing gunshots. But even if they had, they would not have thought much of it because the subdivision backs up to Marine Corps Base Quantico and gunfire is often heard.