Police suspect murder-suicide in 5 deaths

The deaths of three children and two adults may have been a murder-suicide in a custody dispute involving another family member, Toledo police said. A Toledo woman, her adult son and three children -- identified as women's grandchildren and nieces of the other adult -- were found dead Monday inside of a car parked in the family's attached garage, The Blade reported. Police identified the family members as Sandy Ford, 56; Andy Ford, 32; Paige Hayes, 10; Logan Hayes, 7; and Madalyn Hayes, 5. Toledo Police Sgt. Joe Heffernan said officers were called by Randy Ford, 60, Sandy Ford's husband, requesting a welfare check. Heffernan said the Randy Ford returned home from work Monday afternoon and found notes from his wife, son and grandchildren. Police said Sandy Ford was the children's primary care-giver and that Andy Ford lived in the home. The children's parents, who lived elsewhere, were working to obtain full custody of the children, which police said they believe was the motive behind the deaths. Heffernan said carbon monoxide poisoning was suspected as the cause of the deaths. When police broke into the garage, they found the victims, along with three dead pets, in a car. Hoses were running from the exhaust of a truck also parked in the garage into the cab of the car, police said. Dean Sparks, executive director of Lucas County Children Services, told The Blade the children were placed in the Fords' custody in 2009. Police said officers were dispatched to the Ford house last week when Sandy Ford had a confrontation with her daughter, the children's mother.