DANBURY, Conn. — Police said a 36-year-old mother strangled her three children to death before then dying by suicide herself at a Danbury home on Wednesday night.
Danbury police said they received a call at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday for a welfare check at the home at 10 Whaley Street, where they found three children, between ages five and 12, dead in the home. The mother was also found dead in a shed on the property.
The male caller, who a neighbor said was the husband and father, was distraught and crying. Pedro Panjon discovered his deceased children in the home, according to neighbor Sandra Viganor, who added he had no idea where his wife was.
Many questions remain unanswered in large part due to Danbury Police deciding not to hold a press conference Thursday after releasing the names of the deceased through a press release.
Police identified the deceased as 36-year-old Sonia Loja, the mother of three children, Junior Panjon, 12, Joselyn Panjon, 10 and Jonael Panjon, 5.
The children appeared to have died of strangulation, and the mother is suspected to have died from asphyxia, which was self-inflicted. Police said their preliminary investigation indicated that Loja strangled her children before taking her life.
An official autopsy is pending later Thursday.
"I'm about to go out with my girlfriend and we see cop cars, ambulance, fire department, everybody come down and we were just like wow something must've happened," said neighbor Kevin Rivadeneira.
Viganor noted that Sonia Loja, who would babysit for children in her home, was recently contacted by a state agency to tell her she must stop doing so because she was not a licensed daycare. Viagnor said whether that was a trigger or not she had no idea.
"It feels bad because you know the kids were really good kids," said neighbor Ralph Braugher. "They were really friendly kids. You know when you would drive by they would waive 'Hey! How are you doing?'"
"Something we're going to have to live with now," Rivadeneira said. "Just gotta take care of your family, hug the ones that you love."
Two of the three children were students in Danbury Public Schools. Counseling will be available for Danbury students, staff and families needing services on Monday from 10 a.m. to noon at Westside Middle School and Morris Street School.
Danbury Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Walston said in an email, "Our thoughts are with everyone in the Danbury community impacted by this tragedy and we are grieving with you. Losing children to violence is becoming far too common in our nation and events such as these shine a light on the challenges communities face, specifically around mental health, that leave so many people vulnerable.
"We have assembled a Pupil Services team that will be available at Morris Street School and Westside Middle School on Monday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. for any students, staff or family members who need assistance in dealing with this event. Additionally, we have included a resource below for helping people grieve the loss of a person close to them. National Association of School Psychologists: When Grief Hits Close to Home"
Another resident said that in the 25 years he has lived there, this was the first time he had ever seen a police car in the neighborhood.
Danbury police said this is an isolated incident and there's no threat to the public
Tony Terzi is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at tterzi@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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