Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher called the situation unfolding at Lake Vadnais a “possible triple homicide.” He told a news conference that search teams would “continue to search for the other two children in the dark”. All were apparently under the age of 5, Fletcher said.
“There is nothing more tragic than the loss of young children,” Fletcher said.
Authorities responded to the lake earlier on a report that a suicidal woman was headed to the area with her children. A search of the water revealed the body of the child, who was found to be dead a short time later.
Authorities from multiple agencies were involved in the investigation Friday night.
In a brief interview, Lt. Joe Steiner with the Maplewood Police Department said officers responded at about 10:30 a.m. on Friday to a suicide in a mobile home, where they found that the victim’s female partner had left with their children. That’s what started the investigation in the first place, he said.
The woman’s car was found near the lake around 4 p.m., Steiner said. He said authorities continue to treat the search as a rescue/recovery operation. He said family members are aware of the situation, but that none of the names of those involved have yet been released.
Fletcher said authorities “don’t know for sure” if the woman’s body is in the lake.
“We don’t know if this is a triple homicide followed by a suicide or if she was picked up by another party and ran away,” Fletcher said.
