Kochi Family Tragedy: Five Found Dead in Vaduthala House, Suicide Note Recovered
In a heartbreaking incident, five members of a family, including three young children, were discovered deceased at a two-storied residence on Karshaka Road in Vaduthala, Kochi, on Saturday morning. The grim discovery has sent shockwaves through the community, with preliminary investigations pointing to a tragic sequence of events involving suicide and potential poisoning.
Victims Identified and Scene Details
The deceased have been identified as Aswathi Nair (36), her mother Sreekumari (58), and Aswathi's three minor children: two boys aged 14 and 4, and a two-year-old daughter. Police officials reported that the adults were found hanging, while the children were discovered dead on a bed within the house. All victims were found well-dressed, adding to the somber nature of the scene.
Suicide Note and Background of the Tragedy
A senior officer from the city police confirmed that a suicide note was recovered from the premises. The note sheds light on a distressing family history. Aswathi's husband had been suffering from acute liver disease, reportedly due to alcohol abuse, and died by suicide in August last year. Prior to his death, the couple had become estranged, with Aswathi moving out of their shared home.
Despite attempts at mediation by the husband's family and local community members, reconciliation efforts failed. The suicide note indicates that following the husband's death, his family began blaming Aswathi for his suicide, which appears to have compounded her distress.
Will and Premeditation Suspected
Further investigation revealed that approximately a month after her husband's death, Aswathi prepared a will. This document stated that upon her death and that of her children, their assets should be transferred to an entity named 'Providence Home'. Police suspect that this act suggests Aswathi had been contemplating suicide for some time.
"We suspect that the woman must have been contemplating suicide for some time since the will was made back then. We don't know what this Providence Home is, and efforts are on to identify it," the officer stated, highlighting the ongoing inquiries into this mysterious beneficiary.
Family History and Recent Moves
The family, originally natives of Vilappilsala in Thiruvananthapuram, had relocated to Kochi only two months prior to the incident. Their move was reportedly temporary, linked to medical treatment for the older boy, who had health issues and was undergoing care at a private hospital in the city. Medicines were found at the rented house, and police are working to collect his medical history to understand any potential factors in the tragedy.
The house was rented on a temporary basis specifically for this medical treatment, with the family scheduled to vacate the premises on Friday. When they did not respond to calls, a relative of the house owner used a spare key to enter and made the grim discovery. The air-conditioner in the house was found to be operational at the time.
Timeline and Investigation Progress
Authorities estimate that the deaths occurred sometime after March 17, which was the last time the family was seen alive. The bodies have been transferred to Ernakulam General Hospital and Kalamassery Medical College for autopsies to determine the exact causes of death, particularly for the children, where poisoning is suspected but not yet confirmed.
Police have alerted the relatives of the family and are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this devastating event. The community and authorities alike are left grappling with the profound loss and the complex web of personal struggles that led to such a tragic outcome.
