Mother Kills Her Three Children Then Herself, Police Say
The deaths of a family of four Austin residents at a southwest side home on Friday have been ruled a triple murder-suicide, according to Indiana State Police who investigated
According to ISP Sgt. Jerry Goodin, Amanda Bennett, 30, of 310 New York Street in Austin shot her three children—Jasmine Abbott, 14, Katelynn Bennett, 9, and Ryan Bennett, 4—a family dog, then apparently started a fire in the house before shooting herself. Police said the dog survived.
On Friday afternoon, January 21, at approximately 4:20 p.m., an officer from the Austin Police Department made forced entry into a residence located at residence to check on the welfare of the residents at the request of relatives. When the officer entered the residence he noticed parts of the home had been burned. The local officer conducted a quick search of the residence and found four deceased persons inside, according to Goodin.
Indiana State Police Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators were called to the scene, he said
Autopsies conducted at the Kentucky Medical Examiner¹s Office in Louisville determined the preliminary cases of death to a mother and her three children.
The mother, Amanda Bennett died from a gunshot wound to the head and smoke inhalation.
Jasmine Abbott, 14, and Ryan Bennett, 4, died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head.
Katelynn Bennett, 9, died from a gunshot wound to the head and smoke inhalation.
Amanda Bennett was the biological mother of the all of the deceased children, police said.
The official causes of death will not be determined until toxicology results from autopsies return which typically takes up to six weeks, Goodin said.
Additional counselors were to be on hand at Scott County School District 1 on Monday to assist the classmates of the young victims.
