The community of West Haven is reeling after the Weber County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the deaths of a mother and her three children were the result of a murder-suicide. During a press conference earlier today, Lt. Terance Layely discussed the grim findings, stating that evidence collected, including the discovery of a gun in the vehicle, indicated that Maribel Ibarra, 32, was responsible for the shootings which claimed her life as well as that of her children.

"Deputies arrived and confirmed the four people were deceased and beyond help. During the investigation, detectives identified the persons as 32-year-old Maribel Ibarra, and her three children," Layely said, according to KSL Newsradio. Further investigation was aided by footage from a Ring doorbell, solidifying the theory of the mother's sole involvement. The names of the children are being withheld to protect the family's privacy.

Heartbroken over these events, Lt. Layely extended the department’s sympathies to the victim's loved ones and acknowledged the emotional toll such incidents take on first responders, "Our hearts go out for the victims and their families," he conveyed, while also confirming that resources are being made available to support the involved personnel. It was shared by Lavely that this tragedy marks the second child death in the county in two months, and alarmingly, the eleventh child death scene they have processed this year, as reported by FOX 13.

The impact of the incident extends past the immediate tragedy, with the community and law enforcement grappling with a rise in such traumatic events. As detailed by ABC4, this is the second child death in as many months for the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, and the grueling toll of being the eleventh child-death scene in 2024 they have dealt with, is apparent. The family, while grieving, issued a written statement to FOX 13 News following the press conference, though the contents of the statement were not made public at the time.