Parents, 2 kids dead; police suspect ‘homicide-suicide’

Michigan State Police are now conducting a homicide investigation in the deaths, MSP authorities announced Friday during a news conference in Cadillac, WPBN reported.

“It looks at this point as though the wife killed the others and then herself, ” said Grand Traverse County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg told the Record-Eagle.

Michigan State Police say a homicide investigation is underway after a family of four was found dead inside a Grand Traverse County home.

Troopers found the bodies of 54-year-old Jeffrey Mendenhall, Tamisha Mendenhall, 34, and their kids, Thomas, 6, and Olivia, 3, around 9 p.m. Thursday at their Garfield Township home. Based on this assumption police are trying to determine whether it was both or just one of the parents.

“We’ve not yet established between the two adults who was responsible for what portion of things”, Belcher said, adding that nothing suggested that an accident such as a natural gas leak had befallen them.

Troopers found the home to be “dark and secured”, according to a police report.

The deaths shocked residents of the neighborhood simply south of Traverse City, the place cellular houses adorned with flower bins are clustered beneath towering shade timber. Several said they didnt know the Mendenhall family well but considered them friendly and knew of no problems in their household.