Mother, 12-year-old discovered in Neshannock Twp. house fire died in murder suicide
Investigators believe the mother and 12-year-old found dead at a Neshannock Township home may have died as the result of a murder suicide.
Investigators believe the mother and 12-year-old found dead at a Neshannock Township home may have died as the result of a murder-suicide.
According to our NBC affiliate WPXI, investigators said Friday they believed the girl and mother died of wounds not suffered in the fire.
Neshannock Township Police Chief John Rand said, "Both bodies did have one gunshot wound to the head, that's leading us to believe it was a homicide-suicide."
Police learned Friday that the mother recently purchased a handgun, and that handgun was located in the area where her body was found.
Police, firefighters, and the Lawrence County Coroner were called to a fully involved house fire that shut down a road in the township just before 9 a.m. at a home on the 2900 block of Old Plank Road.
The Lawrence County Coroner identified the pair as 12-year-old Jazmyn Keller and 48-year-old Melanie Keller, who were pronounced dead at the scene.
Firefighters say the flames had spread throughout the home and the garage.
The coroner's office, the Neshannock Township police and fire department, and the fire marshal are all investigating.
