Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said all three children are under the age of 5. Authorities were also looking for the children’s mother. Fletcher said he did not know the condition of the children, but said he believed all three were in the lake because all their shoes were there. “There is nothing more tragic than the loss of children, all of whom were under the age of 5,” Fletcher said. Maplewood Police Lt. Joe Steiner said the Vadnais Lake investigation stemmed from a report of a suicide Friday morning. Officers responding to the trailer in the 1300 block of Pearson Drive in Maplewood found a man deceased. Deputies with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol investigate the waters of Vadnais Lake Friday, July 1, 2022, in Vadnais Heights. (KSTP) Then, at 4 p.m., authorities received a report of a possible murder-suicide at Lake Vadnais that was related to the earlier death investigation. A photographer at the scene saw a heavy presence of emergency vehicles from multiple agencies, including fire crews, ambulances, squad cars, an aircraft and a helicopter. A van from the Ramsey County Coroner’s Office was also seen arriving in the area. KSTP’s Eric Chaloux reported that family and friends were crying just outside the police perimeter. A search team remained at the lake as of 9:30 p.m. and authorities called the effort an active rescue and recovery mission. Heartbreaking. A child under the age of 5 died in the water. Searchers are looking for 2 more children and their mother around Vadnais Heights. Sheriff Ramsey CO senses a possible triple homicide, but remains hopeful. pic.twitter.com/dJqBbGRfAY — Eric Chaloux (@EricChalouxKSTP) July 2, 2022 If you think someone is at risk of suicide, the US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that you:

Ask questions about whether the person is having suicidal thoughts. Call the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Get help from a doctor or mental health professional. If it is an emergency, take the person to a hospital. Remove any items from a person’s home that could be used in a suicide. Do not leave the person alone if possible until help is available.

The US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has also compiled a list of resources to help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.