Police identify family found dead in rural Ontario home after ‘wellbeing check’

Ontario Provincial Police have released the identities of the family of four found dead in a home in Harrow, south of Windsor, last week.

Police also revealed that the initial call which lead to the discovery of the bodies of the Walsh family at around 1:30 p.m. last Thursday was for a “wellbeing check” for one of the people at the home on County Road 13 in Harrow.

On Wednesday, police named the deceased as Steven Walsh, 42; his wife, Carly Walsh, 41; their daughter Madison, 13; and their son Hunter, eight. Police initially identified the father as John Walsh but, in an update late Wednesday morning, corrected it to Steven.

Again, police said the cause of death “cannot yet be confirmed” but repeated that there is “no imminent threat to public safety.”

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The children attended St. Anthony Catholic Elementary School in Harrow and a spokesperson for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board said the community is “deeply saddened” by the loss.

“Madison Walsh was a Grade 7 student at St. Anthony. She will be remembered by her teachers and her friends as a kind, caring girl who always had a smile on her face, was a good friend who included others, and always tried to do the right thing,” the spokesperson said.

“Hunter Walsh was a Grade 3 student who will be remembered by his teachers and friends as a ‘sweet kid’ who loved to play soccer, was always smiling and giving hugs to others.”

The spokesperson added that their mother, Carly Walsh, was the vice chair of the school’s advisory council and was heavily involved in school functions and council meetings.

“She cared deeply about St. Anthony and was an important member of the school community.”

The spokesperson said staff, students and families are relying on their faith and each other to get them through this “extremely difficult time” and that members of the board’s mental health and faith teams have been at the school “throughout this situation” providing support services.

“We would ask members of the media to respect the privacy of the school community as they continue to grieve the loss of this family,” the spokesperson added.

The mother worked at Paglione Estate Winery in Harrow. The business posted to social media that she was a core member of their team and they are “heartbroken and reeling with grief.”

“We loved her and her family very much, they were an extension of ours,” the post said.