A mother who shot her three young children dead inside a car outside her home before killing herself called her children “her life” in a disturbing Facebook post.
The body of Maribel Isela Ibarra, 32, was found Tuesday night in West Haven, Utah, along with the remains of her 4-year-old son and two daughters, ages 1 and 2.
Police confirmed at a news conference on Friday that their deaths were a murder-suicide committed by Ibarra, after reviewing CCTV footage from neighbours.
Ibarra committed the unthinkable crime during the night of Sunday or Monday, and their bodies were not found until the family called 911 at 9:47 p.m. on Tuesday.
The stunned family said they had no idea Ibarra was struggling with her mental health and there were no signs she was anything other than a “loving mother.”
Maribel Isela Ibarra, 32, shot and killed her 4-year-old son and two daughters, ages 2 and 1, before killing herself in a car outside her home.
The murderous mother came from a large family (pictured in 2020), which included at least nine nieces and nephews (the youngest had not yet been born).
Ibarra on the beach with her two oldest children in one of the two photos she posted on her social networks
Her Facebook bio even read ‘My kids are my life.’
The photos show Ibarra taking her children to the beach to meet Santa Claus and posing at a rhino statue with her son.
But she was clearly shaken by the death of her mother Elvia Ibarra on April 1 at the age of 69, changing her Facebook profile photo to a black mourning ribbon.
Ibarra also changed her name on social media to ‘Jya Canchola’ some time before the murder-suicide, the meaning of which is unclear.
She moved in with her father, Jose Ibarra, who was married to Elvia for over 50 years, after her mother died and she apparently separated from her husband.
Ibarra had four brothers (pictured from left to right, Angel, Jason, Christian and Julio, along with their parents Jose and Elvia)
Ibarra was clearly shaken by the death of her mother Elvia Ibarra on April 1, at the age of 69 (pictured with Ibarra’s murdered children)
The photos showed Ibarra taking her children to the beach and meeting Santa Claus, and posing at a rhino statue with her son.
Ibarra in another family photo at her brother Jason’s college graduation
The murderous mother came from a large family with roots in Mexico, and had four brothers named Jason, Julio, Christian and Angel, and at least nine nieces and nephews.
Jason is a local real estate agent and father of five daughters, Julio is a father of four sons, and Angel is a biochemical engineer from the University of Utah.
“We are going through an extremely difficult time, with a pain in our hearts that cannot be explained with words due to the invaluable loss we have suffered, because they were the light of our lives,” the family said in a statement.
‘As a family, we unfortunately didn’t know anything about her mental health. We always saw her as a loving mother, which is why this is so shocking to us.
“We do not know the exact reasons why this tragedy occurred and we deeply regret it. This pain is something we hope no one ever has to go through.”
Friends, family and neighbors piled flowers and stuffed toys on the steps in memory of the deceased.
A child’s toy bicycle was on the front lawn of the house.
Ibarra (left) with his mother and other relatives.
The family urged anyone going through difficult times to seek help rather than hide their pain until it is too late.
“Talk and trust that you can overcome any situation. As we have already told you, our pain is indescribable and as a family we are trying to move forward, although honestly we do not know exactly how to deal with it,” they said.
‘That is why we ask you to please respect our pain, so that in this way you can help us begin to heal, little by little, even if it seems unattainable now.
We trust that God and the great love of the community will keep us strong and guide us toward a path where we can one day find peace.
‘We are grateful for the support and prayers of the entire community.’
Ibarra carried out the unthinkable crime during the night of Sunday or Monday and their bodies were not found until the family called 911 at 9:47 p.m. on Tuesday.
Two white pickup trucks were parked in front of the home, and it was unclear which one. Ibarra and her children were found in the back storage area of
Weber County Sheriff’s Lt. Terance Lavely said the children’s father was interviewed and police were satisfied no one else was involved.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to answer that question. Maribel would be the one to answer it and obviously we can’t ask her that,” he said.
Two white pickup trucks were parked in front of the home, and it was unclear which one Ibarra and her children were found in in the rear storage area after police investigated.
A child’s toy bicycle sat on the front lawn, and friends, family and neighbors piled flowers and stuffed toys on the steps in memory.
“These types of cases are very difficult for everyone involved, as well as the community,” said Lt. Colby Ryan.
“Anytime you have young children dying in that manner, yes, it’s very difficult for our officers, our agents, our CSI team, the homicide task force and the neighbors.”
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