Police Investigate Apparent Double Murder and Suicide

 
Los Angeles: Rampart Area detectives are investigating an apparent double murder and suicide that occurred at 509 North Berendo Street.
On May 18, 2005, at about 4:30 p.m., officers conducting a death investigation, were met by the manager at the location who indicated there was a foul smell coming from apartment 215. The manager opened the apartment door and the officers found the decomposed body of a 25 year-old woman, hanging from the ceiling in the entryway. Officers also found the decomposed bodies of a 33 year-old man and a young girl, about 2 years old, on the living room floor.
According to investigators, the tenants of the apartment were a husband, wife and daughter. At this time, investigators believe the wife killed her husband and daughter and then committed suicide by hanging herself.
Although there was evidence of trauma to the decomposed bodies of the man and child, and a lamp at the scene is believed to have been the weapon, the cause of death of the man and child will be determine by the Coroner’s office.
All of the deceased appeared to be of Middle-Eastern decent, however due to the decomposition of the bodies, the Coroner’s office will verify their ethnicity.
The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending the notification of the family.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Rampart Homicide detectives at 213-207-2060. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).