A father and his 4-year-old son were discovered deceased in a lake in eastern Ohio over the weekend, following an incident where their mother drove a golf cart with three other children into the water.
The connection between the two occurrences remains unclear according to statements from the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office. As outlined by the sheriff’s office, the vehicle was driven into Atwood Lake near Atwood Marina West around 10:30 on Saturday morning.
“After assisting the woman from the water, she began making unsettling remarks regarding conversations with God,” the sheriff’s office reported. “Her 15-year-old daughter and twin 18-year-old sons exited the water independently and were unharmed physically. The evidence suggested that the water entry was an intentional act by the mother. This Amish family lives in Homes County and was visiting the lake for the weekend.”
Subsequent discussions with the woman and her teens raised alarm for the safety of a four-year-old son and the woman’s husband, who were unaccounted for.
The investigation revealed suspicions of “foul play” and later that Saturday, authorities found the 4-year-old boy near the end of a dock at Atwood Lake. The mother was taken to a hospital due to “mental health concerns.”
Search teams continued efforts to locate the 45-year-old husband. Witnesses recalled seeing him with the mother near the dock around 1:15 a.m., where the young boy’s body was later found. The search was called off after nightfall and resumed on Sunday morning.
Armed with new information, they sent sonar boats and divers near the dock “in an area referred to as the ’causeway.’”
At about 8:30 a.m., they located the body of a man about 50 yards off the edge of the dock. Detectives said they would be executing search warrants “to look for more clues to piece this unusual tragedy together.”
The sheriff’s office said the identities of the victims would be released by the Tuscarawas County Coroner’s Office after identifies are confirmed and family notifications are complete.
According to WOIO, the teenagers have been released to family members. A news conference is scheduled for Monday afternoon.
