WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) – Four family members who were found dead Thursday night inside a West Jordan apartment have been identified by police.
Police say evidence found at the WIllow Cove apartment complex suggests 34-year-old Justin Zachariah Matern used a handgun to shoot and kill his estranged wife, 31-year-old Melissa Ann Matern and their two sons, 6-year-old Gabriel and 4-year-old Raiden.
Police say Justin later took his own life.
At approximately 7:30 p.m. Thursday, several people called police saying they had just received a disturbing text message from Justin Matern.
Police say the text messages sent by Justin Matern indicated that he had just killed his family and that he now intended to end his own life.
Police say those who received the text message were friends, family members, or co-workers of Justin Matern.
West Jordan police officers responded to 9300 South Redwood Road apartment to check the welfare of the victims and when they arrived they discovered the bodies of all four family members.
Police also say Justin Matern had left a letter at his workplace that announced his intentions, but the note was not discovered until after the murder-suicide.
Police say Justin and Melissa Matern were experiencing marital problems and recently separated. Melissa, Gabriel, and Raiden only recently moved into the West Jordan apartment.
Police say Justin was distraught over the separation and had expressed suicidal thoughts
regarding the circumstance to others. Police say there was no reported history of domestic violence involving the Matern family.
----Information from: West Jordan Police
