A daughter of the White Earth tribal police chief who was found dead in her home killed her young sons and then herself, authorities said Wednesday.
The bodies of Emma L. LaRoque, 28, and her two children were found Monday afternoon in the home off Becker County Hwy. 34 in rural Ogema, roughly 20 miles north of Detroit Lakes.
LaRoque fatally shot herself, while children Shane Woods, 9, and Frederick York, 4, died "of homicidal violence," according to information from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office released by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
"Based on our preliminary investigation, it appears to be a murder-suicide," BCA spokeswoman Jill Oliveira said late Wednesday afternoon.
The BCA did not disclose any details about how the boys were killed or what motivated LaRoque to kill herself and her sons.
LaRoque's father is tribal Public Safety Director Mike LaRoque.
"She was a good mom," said Tabashish Anamiki Ogitchida, who lives several blocks from the home. He said he and LaRoque would exchange greetings anytime they passed each other.
The deaths came as the reservation community was mourning the death of 60-year-old tribal Chairman Terry Tibbetts, who died from cancer over the weekend.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
