2 Dead in Grim Incident at Famed National Park
Authorities made a horrific discovery this week at a famed national park, and details remain unclear as to exactly why it happened in the first place.
Mother, Son Reported Missing
According to multiple reports, a mother and her 6-year-old son in Colorado were reported missing by the husband and father of the child on Jan. 7.
At the moment, it's not clear why the mother and son went missing, and authorities have not shared any more details beyond the fact that the husband reported them missing.
Park Rangers Respond to Report
The Denver Gazette reports that park rangers in Utah's Canyonlands National Park responded on Jan. 8 to a report about a suspicious vehicle in the Island in the Sky district of the park.
The call came in at around 8:15 a.m. The area does not allow camping, so it was strange that a vehicle had been parked there in the first place. Reports say that the car was believed to have been there overnight.
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Upon a closer inspection, the park rangers then discovered an unresponsive 6-year-old boy inside the car. Emergency life-saving measures were immediately attempted, but the boy was ultimately rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Just outside the vehicle, a woman was found dead.
Murder-Suicide Probe Opens
The San Juan County Sheriff's Department in Utah on Monday shared that the missing mother and son from Colorado have been positively identified as the deceased woman and 6-year-old boy found in the famed park's Shafer Trail.
Authorities in Utah also on Monday shared that they're investigating the case as an apparent murder-suicide.
The sheriff's department in Utah will not release the names of the individuals "out of respect for the family and the tragedy that they are experiencing."
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"This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family during this incredible difficult time," a statement from the sheriff’s office stated. "Our investigators are diligently working on this case. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest any ongoing threat to public safety. Based on all evidence obtained so far, this case is being investigated as a homicide and suicide."