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MAPLETON — Mapleton police believe a man used two guns to kill his wife, son and stepdaughter before taking his own life.
Investigators say Timothy Griffith, 45, shot his wife, Jessica Griffith, 42, his stepdaughter Samantha Badel, 16, and his 5-year-old son, Alexandre, before taking a different gun and shooting himself, according to a statement from the Mapleton Police Department Tuesday.
The family dog was also shot to death. Police say both firearms were purchased locally in September.
Their bodies were found Thursday in their Mapleton home, 1502 N. state Route 89, after a concerned neighbor called police to ask officers to conduct a welfare check because the family hadn't been seen for a few days. The family moved to Utah from Switzerland in July for Timothy Griffith's job. He worked for Nestle.
Mapleton Police Chief John Jackson said detectives reached their conclusions based on "positions of the deceased, location of firearms, signs of movement through the home, and evidence left at the scene, as well as examination of the decedents through the autopsy process."
A motive for the tragedy is still under investigation. Jackson said detectives are hoping electronic devices collected at the scene will "shed some light on the family dynamic. That process will take a substantial amount of time."
Jackson estimated the investigation could take months to complete.
Free and confidential help and support for victims and survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence is available 24-7 by calling 1-800-897-LINK (5465), or by contacting the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition at udvc.org.
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org.
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
