Triple Homicide: Family Members Mourn Deaths Of Mother, 2 Kids

HERNDON, VA — Family members of the mother and two children killed Saturday morning in Herndon were mourning the loss on Sunday, according to news reports that identified the victims.

Erlinda Gutierrez told The Washington Post that 34-year-old Claudia Menjivar was a good mother to her two children. Guitierrez's brother, who used to be in a relationship with Menjivar, was the father of Dayana Gutierrez, 12, and Carlos Josué Gutierrez, 10, who were students at Herndon Elementary School.

Authorities have not confirmed the victims' identities yet.

Herndon Police discovered Menjivar and her children's bodies Saturday morning after Fairfax County Police requested they conduct a welfare check at a residence in the 500 block of Florida Avenue.

"The bodies of three individuals were victims of an apparent homicide," Herndon Chief Maggie DeBoard said, during a Saturday afternoon news conference. She added the officers had "discovered a very horrific scene."

Updated: Homicide Site 'Horrific Scene' Says Herndon Police Chief

Fairfax County Police reached out to HPD after a man who was threatening to jump from a Reston Town Center parking garage early Saturday morning said he had harmed people at the Florida Avenue residence, according to the Post. The man then jumped to his death.

"Through the investigation, it was determined that the subject who had died by suspected suicide had a personal relationship with the adult victim," DeBoard said.

DeBoard did not elaborate on the cause of deaths of Menjivar and her children, although she did say the Medical Examiner's Office was involved in the investigation.

"I think we will close this fairly quickly," she said, adding police were not looking for a suspect at this time.

FCPD's Victims Services Division is providing assistance to the family as they cope with the tragedy of the traumatic event, the chief said.

Saturday's three homicides are the first to occur in the Town of Herndon in 2021.

Read The Washington Post's full report.