“We are working an investigation now where we responded on a welfare check and found a father and his two kids deceased in the house,” Simpson said.
The sheriff’s office responded late Monday morning to the residence in the 9000 block of Greenbush in Gratis Twp., south of Gratis.
The children were students at Preble Shawnee Local School District, which sent a letter to district families about the deaths “due to a tragic event.”
One student was a fourth-grader at Preble Shawnee Elementary, and the other a seventh-grader at Preble Shawnee Middle School.
“At this time we do not have any information to share about the situation,” Superintendent Todd Bowling stated in the letter.
Grief counselors will be available when students return to school Tuesday.
“This is a very difficult time for everyone,” Bowling said. “However, we will support each other and work together to support our students.”
Joshua Pergram who lives nearby stopped by the house Monday evening with his two daughters to start a memorial with teddy bears, sports balls, candles and flowers.
“It’s going to affect the whole community,” he said.
The sheriff said more information will be released Tuesday morning.
