Family of seven dead in murder-suicide

Police and forensics personnel investigating reports of a foul smell at a house in Zapopan on Wednesday were met with a gruesome sight. Upon entering the home in the Arroyo Hondo neighborhood, they discovered the decomposing corpses of a four-month-old baby, four children and their parents, killed in an apparent murder-suicide.

The State Attorney General’s Office (PGJE), identified the head of the family as Jose Tamayo Raygoza, aged 38. Tamayo died alongside his wife, their four-month-old baby and ther daughters aged 10, 12, 14 and 16.

Tamayo apparently opened the LPG hose from the boiler, filling the house with gas and killing his wife and children. He then took his own life, having connected the hose from a 30 kg gas cylinder into his mouth and placed a plastic bag over his head.

Neighbors said the family had been living in the house on Guadalupe Victoria for just 22 days and no activity had been seen since December 31. The rotten smell had been noticeable for about five days.

An autopsy by the Medical Forensic Service (Semefo) confirmed all seven family members died from asphyxiation after inhaling the gas.