Saunders County, NE: Family Deaths Called Murder-Suicide

The deaths of three people, whose bodies were found in a burning home, were no accidents.
Reporter: WOWT
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

The deaths of three people, whose bodies were found in a burning home, were no accidents.

Saunders County Attorney Scott Tingelhoff today confirmed what some sources had been telling Channel 6 News -- Toni Hindman used a knife to kill her husband and her daughter before killing herself.

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The bodies of the three, 47-year-old Tim Hindman; his wife, 45-year-old Toni Hindman; and their 12-year-old daughter, Ardena were found by firefighters when a passerby reported the house was on fire.

Tingelhoff says Toni Hindman suffered from depression. He says she set the house on fire and then killed herself. She stabbed her husband and daughter while they slept in their bedrooms.

Saunders County Attorney Scott Tingelhoff: "This is a terrible tragedy. We can't change the events. There was a child involved. She has a lot of friends. I don't know if any additional details will add to the story but will add to the trauma for the children."

A family computer survived the fire. Tingelhoff says investigators discovered that Toni Hindman had been researching depression, medication and suicide.

Investigators say she bought a 6-inch hunting knife the day before the murders.

The family members were buried last week.

From studying other cases involving a female killer, Dr. Carl Greiner -- a professor of psychiatry at UNMC, says a mother may reason that she is protecting her child by taking them away from what she believes is a terrible life.

"Depression is a powerful illness. We all know about being sad…having a difficult day. Depression is a biological illness and part of that, one can feel irritated and feel life isn't worth living but taking someone else is a reasonable thing to do."

Investigators say Toni Hindman showed no signs of depression outside the ordinary to her family.

Experts say there are signs of depression to watch for in our own families: if one becomes more irritable, more withdrawn. If they don't eat or do activities like they used to. Psychiatrists say that if you see that in your family --- recommend they see the family physician who can refer a mental health specialist.