2-year-old, three adults killed in apparent murder-suicide stabbing in Woodbridge, Virginia

A family of four was found dead in Woodbridge, Virginia, in what is being investigated as an apparent murder-suicide by stabbing. The incident took place early on Saturday morning. 

According to the Prince William Police Department, "On February 21 at 8:05AM, officers responded to a residence located in the 3400 block of Vale Ct in Woodbridge (22192) to investigate a stabbing. Officers arrived on scene and located four deceased individuals inside the home, including a small child. The presumed suspect, preliminarily identified as an adult woman, and two other adult family members, a man and woman, were also among the deceased."

"All parties involved were stabbed. The incident is contained inside the home and there is no active threat to the surrounding community. All deceased will be transported to the medical examiner's office for further examination. Additional information will be released when available," the police department added. 

Among the dead were a man in his 40s, a woman in her 70s, a 2-year-old, as well as the presumed suspect in the case, a woman in her 30s. Police believe that the suspect was also the mother of the child. Everyone in the home suffered from stab wounds and the bodies were discovered by an elderly man who lived in the basement, according to WTOP.  

“Compare it to the worst possible nightmare you’ve ever had,” Col. Peter Newsham, Prince William County’s police chief, said. “We don’t know the exact cause or the motive in this case, but just to see a family destroyed like this is horrific.”

A woman who lived in the neighborhood, Sonya Gonzalez, was shocked by the deaths. “This is a good neighborhood. Never seen fights or any domestic fights or anything around here,” she said.