In a tragic turn of events, Alabama authorities have confirmed that the deaths of a Mississippi mother and her young daughter were a murder-suicide. The two were discovered in Alabama following their disappearance.

Shardee McGill, 32, and her 3-year-old daughter, Janae, went missing from Jackson, Mississippi, on September 21. Just days later, Shardee’s car was found abandoned near the Tombigbee River in Alabama, raising alarms. The following sequence of events uncovered a grim reality: on September 25, Shardee’s body was found in the river, with her daughter’s body discovered a day later.

The initial missing person report was made by Shardee’s husband, who notified authorities a day after his wife and daughter were last seen. He was briefly detained and questioned by Jackson police but was released soon after, as reported by the Clarion Ledger.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has determined the cause of their deaths as drownings, with Sergeant Reginal King stating that Janae’s death was classified as a homicide, while Shardee’s was ruled a suicide. This conclusion suggests a deeply distressing scenario where no other individuals are believed to be involved, according to AL.com.

Despite reaching these findings, the investigation remains active. Authorities are continuing to gather information, and the results of the ongoing investigation will eventually be submitted to prosecutors for further examination, as detailed by the Clarion Ledger.

Despite this determination, an investigation is ongoing. The Clarion Ledger reported that police’s findings will be presented to prosecutors for review.