Jennifer Barney Obituary, Victims identified, causes of death released in Mechanic Falls death investigation
We’re getting new details about a death investigation in Mechanic Falls over the weekend.
Police found the mother and her two daughters inside a home Saturday afternoon.
Following an autopsy, the Mechanic Falls Police Department says the girls, Hope West, 7, and Harmony West, 11, were victims of homicide.
The mother, Jennifer Barney, 37, died as a result of suicide.
The three bodies were found after police responded to their Highland Avenue home to check on a U-Haul truck that had been reported stolen.
Authorities say pets were also found inside the home and are now in the care of an animal control officer until their placement can be decided.
As is standard protocol, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit is investigating.
In a message posted on the Regional School Unit 16 Facebook page Sunday afternoon, Superintendent Amy Hediger wrote that the school community was facing an “unimaginable loss” with the death of two students from the Elm Street School, a pre-K through sixth-grade public school in Mechanic Falls.
“Our Elm Street School crisis team came together last night to start planning how best to support our staff and students through this difficult time. We are committed to providing the help and resources needed, and we will share more information as soon as it becomes available,” Hediger wrote in the Facebook post.
In her Facebook post, Hediger shared links to the Center for Grieving Children and the National Alliance of Mental Health websites. She also shared the phone number for the Maine Crisis Line, which is 1-888-568-1112.
