Woman and her two children found dead in their Minnesota home 'in suspected murder suicide' a week after her husband moved out
By James Nye
PUBLISHED: 21:37 EST, 1 April 2013 | UPDATED: 21:37 EST, 1 April 2013
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Authorities in Minnesota suspect that a tragic mother killed herself and her two young children after her armed-forces veteran husband left her over a week ago.
Police in Zimmerman, discovered the bodies of Stephanie Shields, 35, seven-year-old Nolan Shields and six-year-old Josephine Shields on Sunday morning and said that no suspects are being sought.
Autopsy results from the Ramsey County medical examiner's office are pending, but it is known that Shield's husband and the children's father, Mark Shields who is a member of the national guard left the house last week.
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Stephanie Shields, 35, dead along with her son, Nolan, 7, and daughter, Josephine, 6, were discovered by a family member on Sunday morning
Stephanie Shields, 35, dead along with her son, Nolan, 7, and daughter, Josephine, 6, were discovered by a family member on Sunday morning
Police said that a relative discovered the bodies and while authorities did not elaborate on the circumstances around the deaths, Zimmerman' Sheriff Joel Brodt said that the husband has no criminal history and is not a suspect.
While the sheriff's department did not identify the children's father, the Minnesota National Guard sent out a statement confirming that the children's father is Sgt. 1st Class Mark F. Shields.
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Records with the military indicate that Shields has been with the Minnesota National Guard since December 1989 and is currently the full-time readiness non-commissioned officer for the 850th Horizontal Engineer Company. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from Sept. 2004 to Nov. 2005.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.' said Army Major Kristen L. Auge in a written statement to Fox News Twin Cities.
The bodies of Stephanie J. Shields, Nolan Shields and Josephine Shields, were found on Sunday morning by a relative at the family¿s home in the 13300 block of 5th Avenue S (pictured)
The bodies of Stephanie J. Shields, Nolan Shields and Josephine Shields, were found on Sunday morning by a relative at the family¿s home in the 13300 block of 5th Avenue S (pictured)
Investigators do insist they are not looking for a suspect in the deaths at this time. The children's father is Sgt. 1st Class Mark F. Shields - as confirmed by the Minnesota National Guard
Investigators do insist they are not looking for a suspect in the deaths at this time. The children's father is Sgt. 1st Class Mark F. Shields - as confirmed by the Minnesota National Guard
Brott said the bodies were found about 10 a.m. Sunday by a family member, and that all three were dead when deputies arrived.
Brott said his officeÂ’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension were continuing to investigate to try to determine what happened.
'WeÂ’re a small-town family, and one of our families lost some loved ones,' said Zimmerman Mayor Dave Earenfight. 'WeÂ’re mourning and weÂ’ll be praying for them.'
'Josephine Shields and her brother Nolan were part of our Zimmerman Elementary School and we are deeply saddened,' Principal Susan Johnston said in a statement released by the school district.
The children attended attended Zimmerman Elementary School, and district officials said grief counselors would be made available to students
The children attended attended Zimmerman Elementary School, and district officials said grief counselors would be made available to students
Nolan was a second-grade student at the school, and Josephine was a kindergarten student.
Mayor Dave Earenfight said in the 40-years he had called Zimmerman home, nothing like this had ever happened.
'Our community is country,' he said to Eastern News.com. 'We live together, we work together, we pray together and today, weÂ’re mourning together for members of our family as a community.'
Read more: Woman and her two children found dead in their Minnesota home 'in suspected murder suicide' a week after her husband moved out | Mail Online
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By James Nye
PUBLISHED: 21:37 EST, 1 April 2013 | UPDATED: 21:37 EST, 1 April 2013
Comments (7)
Share
Authorities in Minnesota suspect that a tragic mother killed herself and her two young children after her armed-forces veteran husband left her over a week ago.
Police in Zimmerman, discovered the bodies of Stephanie Shields, 35, seven-year-old Nolan Shields and six-year-old Josephine Shields on Sunday morning and said that no suspects are being sought.
Autopsy results from the Ramsey County medical examiner's office are pending, but it is known that Shield's husband and the children's father, Mark Shields who is a member of the national guard left the house last week.
Scroll Down for Video
Stephanie Shields, 35, dead along with her son, Nolan, 7, and daughter, Josephine, 6, were discovered by a family member on Sunday morning
Stephanie Shields, 35, dead along with her son, Nolan, 7, and daughter, Josephine, 6, were discovered by a family member on Sunday morning
Police said that a relative discovered the bodies and while authorities did not elaborate on the circumstances around the deaths, Zimmerman' Sheriff Joel Brodt said that the husband has no criminal history and is not a suspect.
While the sheriff's department did not identify the children's father, the Minnesota National Guard sent out a statement confirming that the children's father is Sgt. 1st Class Mark F. Shields.
More...
Trial to begin for dad accused of slashing his three daughters' throats because he was mad that wife had been dating someone new
New York City resumes search for remains of 9/11 victims after criticism from bereaved families
Records with the military indicate that Shields has been with the Minnesota National Guard since December 1989 and is currently the full-time readiness non-commissioned officer for the 850th Horizontal Engineer Company. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from Sept. 2004 to Nov. 2005.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.' said Army Major Kristen L. Auge in a written statement to Fox News Twin Cities.
The bodies of Stephanie J. Shields, Nolan Shields and Josephine Shields, were found on Sunday morning by a relative at the family¿s home in the 13300 block of 5th Avenue S (pictured)
The bodies of Stephanie J. Shields, Nolan Shields and Josephine Shields, were found on Sunday morning by a relative at the family¿s home in the 13300 block of 5th Avenue S (pictured)
Investigators do insist they are not looking for a suspect in the deaths at this time. The children's father is Sgt. 1st Class Mark F. Shields - as confirmed by the Minnesota National Guard
Investigators do insist they are not looking for a suspect in the deaths at this time. The children's father is Sgt. 1st Class Mark F. Shields - as confirmed by the Minnesota National Guard
Brott said the bodies were found about 10 a.m. Sunday by a family member, and that all three were dead when deputies arrived.
Brott said his officeÂ’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension were continuing to investigate to try to determine what happened.
'WeÂ’re a small-town family, and one of our families lost some loved ones,' said Zimmerman Mayor Dave Earenfight. 'WeÂ’re mourning and weÂ’ll be praying for them.'
'Josephine Shields and her brother Nolan were part of our Zimmerman Elementary School and we are deeply saddened,' Principal Susan Johnston said in a statement released by the school district.
The children attended attended Zimmerman Elementary School, and district officials said grief counselors would be made available to students
The children attended attended Zimmerman Elementary School, and district officials said grief counselors would be made available to students
Nolan was a second-grade student at the school, and Josephine was a kindergarten student.
Mayor Dave Earenfight said in the 40-years he had called Zimmerman home, nothing like this had ever happened.
'Our community is country,' he said to Eastern News.com. 'We live together, we work together, we pray together and today, weÂ’re mourning together for members of our family as a community.'
Read more: Woman and her two children found dead in their Minnesota home 'in suspected murder suicide' a week after her husband moved out | Mail Online
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