A gruesome scene was found in Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday morning, November 16. A family of five, including three children, was discovered dead in their home.
Police found mom, Marla Hudgens, 40, dad Jason Hudgens, 44, Christopher, 3, and 6-month-old twin daughters Gwen and Faye.
Police were called to the Augusta Avenue home early Wednesday morning when the family’s babysitter found the family members unresponsive and smelled gas.
Police found open propane tanks and an unattached gas line in the home. A Hazmat team inspected the home and discovered the dead bodies.
Once the Hazmat team said it was safe to enter the home, police came in to do their investigation.
“Once inside, detectives discovered the bodies of two adults and three children from what are believed to be members of the same family. The bodies had obvious signs of trauma,” police said, adding, “Support services were offered to the neighbors of this tight-knit neighborhood and those associated with the victims.”
Police say it is believed that Jason Hudgens killed his wife and children before turning a gun on himself. Friends of the family told local Phoenix media that Marla Hudgens wanted a divorce. Marla’s close friend Brett Hagerty told Phoenix CBS 5, “We never had any indication from her that she felt scared or threatened or unsafe.”
Friends remembered Jason Hudgens as a quiet, kind person who didn’t present any obvious red flags.
The couple was married in 2013 after having met in high school.