RCMP say four family members found dead in a home in rural Saskatchewan on Sunday died in a murder-suicide.
“Can you imagine the terror that goes on? You can’t even imagine that.”
Those were the words Murray Hanowski said when he met a few community members for coffee Wednesday morning.
“Neudorf is just a sleepy little village like all the rest of them.”
On Sunday, RCMP officers were conducting a wellness check when four bodies were found at a farmyard about five kilometres northeast of Neudorf.
RCMP said on Thursday a 67-year-old male, a 58-year-old female and a 30-year-old male died as the result of homicide. A 34-year-old male died as a result of self-inflicted injuries.
Hanowski has lived in the community for nearly 50 years and was once the mayor of Neudorf. He said he has never seen anything like what happened just days ago.
“It doesn’t happen in small towns like Neudorf,” he said.
RCMP have not released the names of the four people that died, but say they are all members of the same family.
“We are not providing their names or other identifying information at this time. Their next of kin have been notified and victim services made available to them,” RCMP said in a statement.
Global News has confirmed Joanne and Gary Bender own the property where the four adults were found.
“This is a sad thing and not just for that family but for the whole town,” Hanowski explained.
Hanowski said Neudorf isn’t often the site of news and police vehicles and most people in town weren’t eager to talk about the scary scene this weekend.
“No matter what anybody says, or if they are mad at the police for interrogating everyone… It’s a sad situation and you don’t want anybody killed,” Hanowski said.
As for the village, people find themselves searching for answers, but will support each other in any way they can.
“We will all cope with it hopefully,” Hanowski said, looking at his friends.
“The community will support people. We have to.”