Deaths of Woman, 2 Children Investigated as Murder-Suicide

Boston authorities are investigating the death of a woman and two young children who fell from the top floor of a parking garage Wednesday as murder-suicide. Erin Pascal, 40, was found on the sidewalk next to the eight-story garage with her daughter, Allison, 4, and son, Andrew, 1, WYCN reports. "This horrible situation highlights the invisible struggles many members of our community confront and the devastation that can result," the district attorney said. "This entire family, in a matter of minutes — aside from the father who survives them — is gone." The prosecutor described a horrific Christmas Day scene, with shoes and other belongings about the street. "It was awful," she said. "The impact of the fall was visible from the street."

Three doors of an SUV on the top floor of the garage were left open, with car seats inside. Two people committed suicide earlier this year at the garage, and 24-hour security will be added, per MassLive. The two top floors of the garage, which is owned by Northeastern University, have been closed. (Four children were found unharmed in a house after an apparent murder-suicide in Florida.)