A Texas man allegedly murdered his wife and tried to strangle his two sons before killing himself, KHOU-TV reports.
Authorities on Friday morning found the bodies of Benjamin Okigbo and his wife, Theresa Okigbo, inside their home in Sugar Land, Texas, a suburb of Houston.
According to the report, law enforcement officials said Saturday that the case was being treated as a murder-suicide. Investigators believe Benjamin Okigbo fatally strangled Theresa Okigbo, and then tried to kill his two 21-year-old sons also by strangulation.
UPDATE: Investigators believe Benjamin Okigbo strangled his wife Theresa to death, then tried to kill both of his sons by strangling them before he eventually killed himself by hanging. His sons survived. https://t.co/QTT9yL84MF#KHOU11 #HTownRush
— BrandiKHOU (@BrandiKHOU) December 20, 2020
Both sons survived the attack, however, and while they were injured, their injuries are not life-threatening. The sons were taken to an area hospital by ambulance, according to the television station.
Benjamin Okigbo is believed to have eventually committed suicide by hanging.
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The grisly scene was discovered after a daughter who does not reside at the home became concerned and went to the residence. She was not injured.
A 9-1-1 call was subsequently made from the home around 10 a.m. Friday, according to the report.
When police officers arrived, they discovered the couple’s bodies inside. Both were reportedly in their 50s.
A neighbor told KHOU-TV that the couple were originally from Nigeria but had lived at the residence for approximately 20 years. The neighbor said she had spoken with the wife several days earlier and nothing seemed amiss.
Steven Nelson, who lives down the street from the home, told KPRC-TV he was surprised by what happened because the neighborhood is typically quiet. Nelson told the television station that he had seen Benjamin Okigbo outside walking his dog.
“It’s shocking for all of us because you just don’t expect something like that to happen here. It’s always somewhere else,” Nelson told KPRC-TV.
Authorities say the investigation is continuing.
In a Facebook post on Friday, the rector of The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Houston notified the congregation of the deaths. The statement read:
The causes for grief in 2020 seem to multiply. I am very sad to inform you that Ben and Theresa Okigbo died this morning at their home in Sugarland. Their sons Peter and Paul were transported to Memorial Sugarland Hospital, but have since been released. Currently they are with their sister Laura, in the care of their uncle, Ben Okoh. This news is absolutely devastating for our Epiphany family, especially for many of our Nigerian members, whose lives and hearts were touched so profoundly by Ben and Theresa. We have no good answers, only broken hearts to bring to our Lord Jesus. And there is no better place for our broken hearts to be, than in his care. I assured Ben and Laura that their Epiphany family is ready to surround them with grace and mercy, and to be of any assistance we can to these three children who will now grapple with the loss of two parents. Keep them in your prayers. More information will follow as plans are made.
Multiple reports online describe Benjamin Okigbo as a medical doctor, however, this has not been officially confirmed.
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