Police said Tuesday they believe a 45-year-old man shot and killed his wife, son and stepdaughter before killing himself.
The Utah County family of four was discovered by officers conducting a welfare check at the family’s Mapleton home about 9:40 p.m. Nov. 9.
Officers removed a window after no one responded at the house, and found the bodies of Timothy Griffith, 42-year-old Jessica Griffith, 16-year-old Samantha Badel and 5-year-old Alexendre Griffith. They also found a dog with a fatal gunshot wound.
Police recovered two firearms they believe Timothy Griffith used in the shooting, according to a Mapleton Police post to Facebook.
“It appears Timothy used one firearm to murder the family and a different one to commit suicide,” the post stated.
Timothy Griffith purchased both firearms locally in September, according to police.
Investigators are piecing together what could have led to the shooting.
Badel, who had been a sophomore at Maple Mountain High School, was Jessica Griffith’s biological daughter and a stepdaughter to Timothy Griffiths, according to police. Alexendre was the biological son of both adults. In July, the family had moved from Switzerland to Mapleton, where Timothy Griffith got a job at a Nestle facility.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the deaths of our Nestle employee Tim Griffiths and his family. Tim was a recent transfer to our facility in Springville,” a Nestle spokesperson wrote in a release.
A neighbor who spoke to The Salt Lake Tribune and did not want to be identified said Jessica Griffith was from Europe, and the couple had met while Timothy Griffith was overseas.
Free, confidential resources are available for victims of domestic violence through the Utah Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). More information can be found at udvc.org.
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts is asked to call the 24-Hour National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Utah also has crisis lines statewide.