A family member of the three people found dead in a Coniston home on Sunday was still shocked and confused by the news on Monday. As he lived across the street from the scene, which was filmed by police, the man watched as the media took pictures of the scene and police entered and exited the building. He said the dead are all members of the same family. “I didn’t hear anything,” the man said, confused as to how something so bad could happen to such good people. Sudbury.com is not naming the man as police have not yet released the names of the deceased. A neighbor a few houses down from the scene also said he hadn’t heard anything unusual. “I never heard anything from that house – a quiet house,” said the neighbor. The three dead include a father, mother and their teenage son, the family member said, adding that the couple also has a daughter who has since left home. The father is the man’s cousin. “You couldn’t ask for better people,” she said, adding that the father would do anything to help the neighbors. As a “big guy,” father was especially helpful in helping the neighbors move things. “For this to happen on this street…” the family member said while shaking his head, later adding that he considers it a quiet, safe neighborhood. On Sunday afternoon, she said someone else was worried about the family because she wasn’t answering their phones or the door. The neighbor said the person broke a window with a propane tank and went inside, where they found the bodies and took a St. Bernard dog outside the home to care for it. Officers were dispatched to the home at approximately 6:30 Sunday afternoon regarding what police described as an “unknown problem.” They entered the home “as there were immediate concerns for the individual’s welfare,” police said in a news release. Upon entering the house, the police found three dead people. The family member said officers later emerged head-to-toe in protective gear as they entered the building. On Monday morning, officers continued to enter and exit the building, but were no longer wearing protective clothing. The names of the dead have not yet been released by police, who are treating this as an isolated incident with no concern for public safety. The police investigation into the incident is ongoing. Detectives from the Greater Sudbury Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division are working in partnership with the coroner’s office on the investigation. Autopsies will be performed by the medical examiner to help determine the cause of death. Police officers will be at the scene and in the area to seek information. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-8477.
