Brevard Mom Kills 4 Kids, Herself
PORT ST. JOHN (CBSMiami) - Police in Brevard County are trying to find a motive to what led a mother to kill her four children and then herself.
Three kids ran to a neighbor's house in Port St. John Tuesday morning, saying their mom had shot them. Mom called them, and they went back home, where police said they were shot dead by their mother before she took her own life.
Police in the Brevard County city have identified the woman was 33-year-old Tanya Thomas. Her 4 children, aged 12-17, were found at the family's home, killed by gunshot wounds. Thompas' body was also found in the home, apparently dead by her own hand.
Brevard sheriff spokesman Tod Goodyear said the neighbors called 911, and when deputies arrived at the house they saw someone moving inside.
"I'm a father and I've got kids. I cannot comprehend a person doing that to their child -- calling them back to the slaughter," Goodyear told CBS' Orlando affiliate WKMG.
The decision was made for two teams to try to enter the home when deputies heard gunfire. When they entered the home, they found 5 bodies, Thomas and her children.
"We have no idea on motive right now," Goodyear told WKMG. He added that no note or letter has been discovered.
Goodyear told the media that deputies had been called to the home for a domestic incident a few weeks ago, but had no other details.
Deputies said Thomas had on significant criminal history and domestic battery charges against her were dropped in 2002.
