Crime & Safety
Police to Hold Press Conference This Afternoon on Glendale Deaths
The press conference will take place at 4:30 p.m. at Glendale's city hall.
Glendale Police Chief Jeffrey Beaton and Lieutenant Timothy Fagan, Deputy Commander of the Major Case Squad, announced a press conference this afternoon with more details about the death of Glendale residents Catherine Murch and her two children, May Claire and Mitchell III, ages 8 and 10 respectively,
The mom and her children were found shot to death in their home at 740 Hawbrook on July 30 at around 11 a.m.
Earlier, police reported Mitchell Murch, II, (the husband and father of the deceased) was in the home on the first floor when it happened.
In a press conference held July 31, Glendale Police Chief Jeffrey Beaton confirmed that Murch made two 911 calls on Monday morning - one to report that he heard shots fired and another to report a murder-suicide - that his wife had shot his children. Murch was questioned Monday and released.
At that same press conference, Lt. Tim Fagan, deputy commander of the Major Case Squad, said police have not interviewed Murch since he was released last night.
"He (Murch) has been absolutely cooperative, and we don't consider him a suspect as this point," Fagan said. "But this is an ongoing, fluid investigation. It's too early to come to a full conclusion as to what exactly happened."
Fagan did not confirm at the time that it was a murder-suicide, but noted they were not seeking any suspects in the investigation out of the home.
Fagan told reporters that his staff was awaiting autopsy results and lab work, which could be revealed today. He said that the squad has asked that those results be expedited.
The children attended School in Webster Groves, and the family was very active in the church. An impromptu prayer service at the church Monday night drew hundreds.
A private funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m, Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Cathedral Basilica. There will be a Christian burial at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Kirkwood. However, the wake is by invitation only.
Stay tuned to Patch for more updates on this story.
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