Photo: GoFundMe
A mother and her two children are dead in an apparent murder-suicide, sending shockwaves through the small town of Mechanic Falls, Maine. On Saturday, July 27, around 3:30 p.m., officers responded to a home in Mechanic Falls to investigate a report of a stolen U-Haul truck that had not been returned, according to Mechanic Falls Police Chief Jeffrey Goss.
At the scene, an officer and a deputy from the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Office attempted to make contact with the resident, identified as the person who had rented the truck. During their investigation, police discovered that the resident, an adult woman, was deceased inside her home. Upon further inspection, authorities found two children also dead inside the residence.
Autopsies conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified the deceased as 7-year-old Hope West, 11-year-old Harmony West, and 37-year-old Jennifer Barney. Officials determined that the two young girls were victims of homicide, while Barney’s death was ruled a suicide.
The case has been handed over to the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit, which is now leading the investigation, Chief Goss said.
According to Goss, pets were found inside the home, prompting the involvement of an animal control officer. The pets will remain under animal control’s care until “a next-of-kin can be reached and a determination of the pets’ placement can be decided,” Goss added.
Several neighbors told WGME-TV that they hadn’t seen the girls, who often played outside, for about two weeks prior to the tragic discovery. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help offset funeral expenses for the children. The fundraiser, organized by their uncle, reveals that Hope’s 7th birthday was on July 27, the very day officers made the grim discovery.
“Harmony and Hope were the best of friends, and we are grateful they had each other in the challenges they faced in their young lives,” fundraiser organizer Dan Parrott wrote. “Our hearts have been shattered by the tragedy of their passing.”
Both girls were students at Elm Street School, according to the fundraiser. The local community has been left in mourning, struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss.
As the investigation continues, the community of Mechanic Falls stands united in their grief, supporting each other through this heartbreaking time. The memory of Hope and Harmony West will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on those who knew and loved them.
