Man, Two Children Found Fatally Shot in Suspected Murder-Suicide in Mendocino County
UKIAH, CA — “On 10/09/2026 at approximately 10:19 A.M., the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 transfer from the California Highway Patrol regarding an unknown emergency at a residence in the 6800 block of Old River Road near Ukiah, CA.
The 911 caller reported finding two children at a residence on Old River Road who needed emergency medical assistance. Subjects at the property decided to transport the two juveniles in their vehicle to meet with emergency medical services and left the scene traveling north on Old River Road.
Law enforcement personnel from throughout Mendocino County, emergency medical personnel, and Fire personnel initiated an emergency response to the scene on Old River Road.
The citizens transporting the two juveniles met with emergency medical personnel near the Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE) on Old River Road just south of Talmage Road.
Emergency medical personnel immediately began performing life-saving efforts on the two juveniles who were determined to be unresponsive and without a pulse. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other advanced life-saving efforts were performed on the two juveniles by first responders.
Additional law enforcement personnel responded to the original scene where the incident occurred in the 6800 block of Old River Road. Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement personnel located a deceased adult male at the property who was determined to be involved in this incident. The adult male was later determined to be a 44-year-old male and father of the two juveniles who were receiving emergency medical care near MCOE on Old River Road.
After extensive life-saving efforts were determined unsuccessful, the two juveniles were declared deceased. The two juveniles were determined to be siblings, and identified as a 14-year-old female and 7-year-old male. Identifying information related to the juvenile decedents is being withheld due to their age.
Detectives with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were already at both scenes related to this investigation, and took over primary investigative responsibilities for this incident.
A search warrant was authored and granted for the primary location where this incident occurred in the 6800 block of Old River Road. Investigators interviewed family members, witnesses, and other involved parties, and processed the scene for evidence where the two homicides occurred on Old River Road.
Evidence gathered during the investigation currently indicates the 44-year-old male was with two of his children at the residence in the 6800 block of Old River Road near Ukiah during the morning of 10/09/2026. Initial evidence and interviews indicate the adult male killed the two children and then committed suicide at the residence.
Investigators are still conducting interviews and gathering evidence related to this investigation, but a possible motive is not being released at this stage of the investigation. Investigators and law enforcement have contacted all parties believed to be involved in this incident and determined there are no outstanding suspects and no continuing threat to the community.
Chaplains with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office also responded to this incident to assist family members of the decedents and first responders.
Autopsies for the three decedents are being scheduled, and additional information related to the coroner’s investigation will be released once the pathologist completes their investigative reports. The official cause and manner for the three coroner’s investigations has not been determined. Additional identifying information for the adult male will be released once the legal next-of-kin has been identified and notified, and the autopsy has been completed.
Anyone with information related to this incident is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.”
