UPDATE: 911 Call Released In East Haven Tragedy Involving 2 Deceased Children

Update 2 p.m. At this time there is no further update regarding the cause of death of the two children at #541 Strong Street, East Haven, East Haven police in a Wednesday afternoon update. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will be investigating the cause of death.

Names are still being withheld until positive identification is made of the deceased. The investigation is ongoing.

Update 10 a.m. Wednesday

On Wednesday morning, East Haven police released the chilling 911 emergency call placed by a friend of the mother whose two children died in their house at 541 Strong Street Tuesday.

In the 911 call, a friend says the children’s mother sent her a letter recently saying she was going to kill herself and the friend went to the house to check in on her Tuesday.

The mother then told the friend on the phone that she had “cut herself” and that the kids were lying down on the floor, but the friend couldn’t make eye contact to see the kids, according to the 911 call.

The woman told the dispatcher that she immediately called 911 after speaking with the distraught mother.

The woman told the 911 operator that the mother was speaking very lightly and she could barely understand her, according to the 911 call.

The entire 911 call lasted about 90 seconds, and was obtained by WTNH News 8 on Wednesday. Police have not released any additional information about their investigation as of 10 a.m. Wednesday.

At a Tuesday evening press conference police said they were conducting a “suspicious death investigation” after two children, ages 5 and 7, were found dead inside their house.

Police believe a gas leak is responsible for the children’s deaths and injuries sustained to their mother, 36. Police have said they think the gas could have been turned on, on purpose.

It’s likely the children were in the house for more than 24 hours, officials said. No names have been released.

“It is a sad time for our town and our community,” Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. said, at a June 2 press conference.

Police confirmed that the father of the children was on scene and he was devastated. Police Chaplain Father Tom Sievel of St. Vincent de Paul Church notified the father of the children’s passing.

Emergency responders were called to the house at 2:41 p.m. Tuesday. Upon arriving at the address, officers located a despondent 36 year-old female resident with apparent injuries, said Police Lt. David Emerman. Police are not able to say if the mother’s injuries were self-inflicted.

“Upon further investigation, responding officers entered the residence and found an active gas leak within,” Emerman said. “While checking the residence for more occupants, officers located a deceased 5 year-old and 7 year-old. No other occupants of the residence were located.”

Responding officers exited the residence until fire personnel and the gas company could make the residence safe, police said.

Due to the exposure from the gas, three responding police officers were treated on scene by the East Haven Fire Department and later transported by AMR Ambulance to Yale-New Haven Hospital, police said.

Additionally, the mother of the deceased children was also transported via ambulance to Yale-New Haven Hospital. All three officers and the 36 year old resident were all being treated for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The mother has not been interviewed yet because while she is conscious, police said she is dazed and experiencing trauma.

The school systems are being notified and support will be provided to anyone who needs counseling during this difficult time, Maturo said.

This investigation is being conducted by the East Haven Police Department Detective Division with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad, New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

No charges have been filed at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the East Haven Police Detective Division at 203-468-3827.