‘Dad’ kills his three children after violently beating wife: Cops [UPDATE]

New details emerged in the case of a California man who allegedly killed three children before fleeing his Sacramento apartment on Wednesday night.

As Crime Online previously reported, authorities arrested Robert Hodges, 33, after three children, ages 11, 9, and 7 months old, were found dead inside an apartment at the Timbers Apartments on Touchstone Place in West Sacramento. California Highway Patrol officers arrested the suspect at around midnight off of Interstate 80 and West El Camino Avenue. Authorities took him into custody without incident.

The children’s mother was reportedly in the home when the killings occurred; police report she “was in close proximity” when her husband allegedly murdered them, although it’s still unclear exactly how they were killed. West Sacramento Police Sgt. Roger Kinney said the mother was a domestic violence victim but he couldn’t detail how extensive her injuries were. Her name is disclosed for privacy reasons.

“It’s horrific and it’s very difficult to deal with,” Kinney said. ‘This [investigation] is going to take not hours, not days, it’s going to take a long time a long time to come to grips with what happened there.”

According to Irene Aiello, the great-grandmother of the three children, the couple had been married for over 12 years and Hodges was the father of all three children. She said she never witnessed any previous marital disturbances.

A candlelight vigil is scheduled on Thursday evening for the three victims, which include an 11-year-old boy, a 9-year-old girl and an 8-month-old infant boy. It takes place at 7 p.m. PST at the Southport Elementary School in Sacramento. Grief counselors will be on hand.

Hodges was taken to the Yolo County Jail. He’s charged with three counts of murder and felony domestic violence.

The story is still developing. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.

[Feature Photo: Yolo County Jail/Handout]