A Pennsylvania father who allegedly threw his two young children from a five-story parking garage before jumping to his death was remembered by his wife as a “wonderful dad.”
Patrick Lynch, 42, was found dead Tuesday afternoon alongside his eight-year-old son, James, and six-year-old daughter, Caroline, at the base of a parking garage in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon. Investigators believe the deaths were the result of a double murder-suicide.
In a Facebook post that was later deleted, Patrick’s wife, Anna DeMase Lynch, described him as a devoted father who had struggled with depression after losing his job as a data scientist.
“My husband made the irreversible decision to kill our two children and himself this evening,” the grieving mother wrote, according to a screenshot cited by The Daily Voice.
“Before the media jumps to conclusions, he was a wonderful dad,” she added. “Please check in on your loved ones. I never thought this is how our story would end.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Patrick was laid off from the technology company Slice in August after nearly five years with the firm. He worked as a scientist specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Anna said she had finally persuaded him to seek therapy, and that his first appointment had been scheduled for Wednesday—one day after the tragedy.
“One day too late,” Anna wrote, according to the outlet.
Patrick Lynch of Pennsylvania allegedly threw his two young children from a five-story parking garage before jumping to his death. His wife, Anna, described him as a “wonderful dad” (family pictured)
Patrick, 42, was found dead alongside his eight-year-old son James and six-year-old daughter Caroline (all pictured) at the base of a parking garage in a Pittsburgh suburb Tuesday afternoon. Investigators believe the deaths were a double murder-suicide
In a Facebook post later deleted, Anna described Patrick (pictured) as a devoted father who had become depressed after losing his job as a data scientist
“Rest in peace my angels,” Anna wrote in a heartbreaking tribute to her children. “James may you ski all the bowls and Caroline may you eat all the Skittles and play in your own castle made of slime. Best friends forever.”
The grim discovery was reported shortly after 4.15pm on November 3, when police received a call about three people lying unresponsive in the roadway, according to the Allegheny County Police Department.
A witness who spoke with the woman who called police told KDKA News: “She said she was the first on the scene and saw what she saw. It’s nothing—man, you could see a horror movie, you know?”
“It doesn’t match this at all,” he added. “I mean, this is really, really sad.”
Officers responded to an area behind a parking garage in the 700 block of Washington Road in the affluent suburb of Mt. Lebanon, where they found Patrick and his two children.
Additional responders soon arrived, including deputies from several other departments, firefighters and paramedics, who tried desperately to save the family.
A medical examiner pronounced all three dead at the scene, initially attributing the deaths to an “apparent fall.”
James was pronounced dead at 4.35pm, one minute before his younger sister, Caroline. She had been born with the rare genetic condition Williams syndrome.
Anna (pictured) said she had finally convinced Patrick to seek therapy. His first appointment was scheduled for Wednesday, one day after the tragedy
Police discovered Patrick and his two children shortly after 4.15pm on November 3 behind a parking garage (pictured) in the 700 block of Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon
A medical examiner pronounced all three dead at the scene, initially attributing their deaths to an “apparent fall.” James was declared dead at 4.35pm, one minute before his sister (both pictured)
A witness who spoke with the woman who called police told KDKA News: “She said she was the first on the scene and saw what she saw. It’s nothing—man, you could see a horror movie, you know?”
Later that night, investigators said they were treating the deaths as a suspected double murder-suicide. They believe Patrick pushed his children from the garage before jumping himself.
“At this time we are treating this incident not as an accident,” Mt. Lebanon Police Chief Jason Haberman said during a press conference streamed by WTAE News.
The following afternoon, the medical examiner’s office confirmed that both children had died from “multiple blunt force injuries” and ruled their deaths homicides.
Officials confirmed Thursday that Patrick had also died from blunt force injuries, but ruled his death a suicide, according to CBS News.
“There will be a significant amount of trauma associated with this event for the community,” Haberman said.
“Everybody in the Mt. Lebanon community will know somebody involved in this incident,” he added. “We really want to send our condolences.”
A makeshift memorial grew at the scene Wednesday morning as mourners came to honor James and Caroline Lynch, leaving flowers and stuffed animals.
“I came here because I wanted to honor her, and she was really nice,” 10-year-old Marlow Manion, who attended school with Caroline, told CBS. “She came to my house one time, and I just wanted to honor her.”
Patrick was laid off from technology company Slice in August after nearly five years with the firm, where he worked as a scientist specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence, according to his LinkedIn profile
Before the tragedy, the Lynch family appeared to live comfortably in a nearly $1 million, 4,300-square-foot home in the neighborhood (pictured: Anna and Caroline)
A makeshift memorial grew at the scene Wednesday morning as mourners honored James and Caroline Lynch with flowers and stuffed animals
Caroline was born with the rare genetic condition Williams syndrome
Public records indicate that the Lynch family lived in a nearly $1 million, 4,300-square-foot home in the neighborhood before the tragedy.
Gina Pugliano, a friend of Anna and fellow mother, created a GoFundMe page to help pay funeral expenses for Anna’s children and husband. She described Anna as a woman who had “devoted her life to her family and community.”
“To know her is to love her. And last night, these two beautiful, perfect children lost their lives in the most unimaginable way,” Pugliano wrote.
“No mother should ever have to experience this kind of pain,” she added. “Nothing I write here will bring her babies back or give her any sense of justice or peace.”
“I set this up because that’s what we do, as mothers. We take care of each other and we fight like mothers. You are going to have to fight, Anna. You have so many mothers fighting for you.”
By early Saturday morning, the fundraiser had collected nearly $218,000 toward its $250,000 target.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
