Little girl, 4, uses slain grandfather’s phone to call for help after finding family dead in apparent murder-suicide

After finding her family dead, a 4-year-old California girl reportedly used her murdered grandfather’s cell phone to call for help.

The Sacramento Bee reports that Jacob Jedidiah Thayer, 26, is believed to have fatally shot his girlfriend Marie Leonetti, 27, and father, Richard Thayer, 60, early Thursday before turning the gun on himself. According to the newspaper, Richard and Leonetti possibly suffered multiple gunshot wounds while Jacob appeared to have sustained one; a partially-loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol registered to Jacob was also found near his body.

Jacob’s mother had reportedly left earlier that night to care for a family member. She reportedly received a phone call from her 4-year-old granddaughter a little before 3 a.m., saying that her father had shot himself. The Sacramento Bee reported that the grandmother rushed back to the Pine Grove home and made the grisly discovery.

KOVR reported that Amador County police arrived at the residence shortly after 3 a.m. and found the grandmother and little girl standing outside.

A family friend told KCRA that the 4-year-old was home during the shooting but wasn’t harmed.

“I hope [the 4-year-old] remembers her mom and how much her mom loved her,” Leonetti’s cousin Amanda Gold said. “If she remembers anything of her mom, I hope it’s that.”

A motive for Thursday’s shooting is not yet known. Police said an investigation is ongoing.

[Featured Image: Marie and Lyla Leonetti/GoFundMe]