An Ohio woman killed three members of her family last month before turning the gun on herself as officers «attempted to deliver civil documents,» police said.
The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office believes Theresa Cain, 46, killed Ethan Cain, 13, Steven Cain, 50, and William Felton, 74. Police did not say Cain’s relationship to the victims.
Samantha Cain, 20, who police identified as Cain’s daughter, was also seriously injured in the shooting, police say.
Deputies responded to the Clermont County home on February 27 around 9:41 a.m. to attempt «civil service,» police said in a statement.
The police did not clarify what the civil service was.
“As he approached the residence, multiple gunshots were heard from inside the residence,” the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office statement said. «Repeated attempts to contact the occupants were unsuccessful and the Sheriff’s Special Response Team responded to make the entry.»
Authorities found five gunshot victims inside the home, four of whom were dead and one alive. The living victim, later identified as Samantha, was taken to an area hospital where she is «in critical but stable condition,» police said.
Based on preliminary autopsy reports, officers believe Cain killed all three of his family members and wounded his daughter before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while officers were on the scene attempting civil service.
Cain’s motive for the shooting remains unclear.
«Samantha’s progression could provide vital information about this horrific incident that could help detectives with answers about the motive, which remains under investigation,» the sheriff’s office said.