Mississauga dad, kids confirmed as bodies in burned-out vehicle
By Terry Davidson ,Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 03:43 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 07:26 PM EDT
MISSISSAUGA - Three charred bodies found in a burning vehicle near Barrie have been confirmed as those of a Mississauga man and his two kids in what police suspect is a double murder-suicide.
OPP’s Barrie detachment said Wednesday that Samuel Masih, 36, and his two sons — ages 10 and 4 — are the three people who died in an SUV-type vehicle that had been set on fire early Friday, hours after the trio were reported missing.
“What we believe is that the person responsible for the deaths perished in the fire,” OPP Sgt. Peter Leon said, adding that the investigation has determined Masih was responsible for both the deaths of his kids as well as his own. “From all indications, it would appear that way, yes.”
Masih and his two sons had been burned beyond recognition, and autopsies were conducted over Tuesday and Wednesday to determine their identities.
Leon said that “although a person of interest (Masih) perished in the fire, our investigation remains active.”
Peel Regional Police — who are investigating the case along with the OPP — said Tuesday they were examining aspects of Masih’s life that might shed some light on why he would take such drastic action, including reports he and his wife, Brintha Shanmugalingam, were headed for divorce.
“We’re going to look at everything,” Const. George Tudos said. “(Investigators will speak with) anybody that has any information.”
Shanmugalingam called police around 1:30 a.m. Friday after her husband and their two sons failed to return to the family’s Riel Dr. home following a Thursday night outing to the movies.
Several hours later, the OPP responded to calls of a vehicle engulfed in flames on a dead-end street in Oro-Medonte Twp. northeast of Barrie — not far from a drive-in movie theatre.
Neighbours had described Masih, Shanmugalingam and their sons as a quiet, regular family who had been living on the street for around five years.
But one neighbour who wouldn’t give her name said it was known by some in the neighbourhood that the couple were headed for a divorce.
Mississauga dad, kids confirmed as bodies in burned-out vehicle | Toronto & GTA
Memorial growing for three dead in burned-out car
By Terry Davidson ,Toronto Sun
First posted: Thursday, July 10, 2014 06:27 PM EDT
TORONTO - Friends of two boys who were apparently victims of murder at the hands of their father remembered the pair at growing memorial outside the family’s home Thursday.
Nicolas Lujan recalled his school chum, 10-year-old Tyrese, as a quiet and sometimes-shy kid known for scooping his little brother from junior kindergarten and treating him to a two-man game of tag on the front lawn of their Mississauga home.
Nicolas, 9, and his uncle, Michael Lujan, lit several small candles and knelt in prayer in front of a growing memorial outside Tyrese’s family home on Riel Dr. in the Hurontario St. and Central Pkwy W. area.
Tyrese, his four-year-old brother Santosh, and their father Samuel Masih, 36, were identified by police on Wednesday as the three people found dead inside a burning SUV northeast of Barrie last Friday morning.
Masih’s wife reported her husband and two sons as missing around 1:30 a.m. Friday after they failed to return home from a Thursday night outing to the movies.
The OPP is calling it a double-murder suicide, and Peel Regional Police have said its investigators will be looking into reports that Masih and his wife were headed for a divorce, and will investigate all other aspects of his life, as well.
Lujan, Tyrese and little Santosh all attended Mississauga’s Bishop Scalabrini Catholic School, and had just completed Grade 4, Grade 5 and junior kindergarten, respectively.
Lujan remembered Tyrese as someone devoted to his kid brother, despite there being a six-year age difference.
“They would (always) be playing a little game of tag or something,” said Lujan, adding that Santosh could often be seen chasing his big brother while Tyrese rode his bike. “Sometimes Tyrese would slow down and let (Santosh) catch him.”
Lujan said Tyrese was also known for having a love of soccer and volleyball, and had a rep for being a mean player of “Pump,” a game involving the passing of a ball to other participants without dropping it.
Lujan’s uncle said it was known by some of Tyrese’s classmates that his parents may have been headed for a break-up.
“He had mentioned it to other classmates, that his parents were splitting up, and he was having a difficult time with that,” Michael Lujan said.
A memorial outside the Mississauga home of Tyrese, Santosh, and their father Samuel Masih, who were found dead in a burned-out vehicle north of Barrie last Friday. (Terry Davidson/Toronto Sun)
Memorial growing for three dead in burned-out car | Toronto & GTA | News | Toron
I hope that the children were already dead before they were torched. :shock:
By Terry Davidson ,Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 03:43 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 07:26 PM EDT
MISSISSAUGA - Three charred bodies found in a burning vehicle near Barrie have been confirmed as those of a Mississauga man and his two kids in what police suspect is a double murder-suicide.
OPP’s Barrie detachment said Wednesday that Samuel Masih, 36, and his two sons — ages 10 and 4 — are the three people who died in an SUV-type vehicle that had been set on fire early Friday, hours after the trio were reported missing.
“What we believe is that the person responsible for the deaths perished in the fire,” OPP Sgt. Peter Leon said, adding that the investigation has determined Masih was responsible for both the deaths of his kids as well as his own. “From all indications, it would appear that way, yes.”
Masih and his two sons had been burned beyond recognition, and autopsies were conducted over Tuesday and Wednesday to determine their identities.
Leon said that “although a person of interest (Masih) perished in the fire, our investigation remains active.”
Peel Regional Police — who are investigating the case along with the OPP — said Tuesday they were examining aspects of Masih’s life that might shed some light on why he would take such drastic action, including reports he and his wife, Brintha Shanmugalingam, were headed for divorce.
“We’re going to look at everything,” Const. George Tudos said. “(Investigators will speak with) anybody that has any information.”
Shanmugalingam called police around 1:30 a.m. Friday after her husband and their two sons failed to return to the family’s Riel Dr. home following a Thursday night outing to the movies.
Several hours later, the OPP responded to calls of a vehicle engulfed in flames on a dead-end street in Oro-Medonte Twp. northeast of Barrie — not far from a drive-in movie theatre.
Neighbours had described Masih, Shanmugalingam and their sons as a quiet, regular family who had been living on the street for around five years.
But one neighbour who wouldn’t give her name said it was known by some in the neighbourhood that the couple were headed for a divorce.
Mississauga dad, kids confirmed as bodies in burned-out vehicle | Toronto & GTA
Memorial growing for three dead in burned-out car
By Terry Davidson ,Toronto Sun
First posted: Thursday, July 10, 2014 06:27 PM EDT
TORONTO - Friends of two boys who were apparently victims of murder at the hands of their father remembered the pair at growing memorial outside the family’s home Thursday.
Nicolas Lujan recalled his school chum, 10-year-old Tyrese, as a quiet and sometimes-shy kid known for scooping his little brother from junior kindergarten and treating him to a two-man game of tag on the front lawn of their Mississauga home.
Nicolas, 9, and his uncle, Michael Lujan, lit several small candles and knelt in prayer in front of a growing memorial outside Tyrese’s family home on Riel Dr. in the Hurontario St. and Central Pkwy W. area.
Tyrese, his four-year-old brother Santosh, and their father Samuel Masih, 36, were identified by police on Wednesday as the three people found dead inside a burning SUV northeast of Barrie last Friday morning.
Masih’s wife reported her husband and two sons as missing around 1:30 a.m. Friday after they failed to return home from a Thursday night outing to the movies.
The OPP is calling it a double-murder suicide, and Peel Regional Police have said its investigators will be looking into reports that Masih and his wife were headed for a divorce, and will investigate all other aspects of his life, as well.
Lujan, Tyrese and little Santosh all attended Mississauga’s Bishop Scalabrini Catholic School, and had just completed Grade 4, Grade 5 and junior kindergarten, respectively.
Lujan remembered Tyrese as someone devoted to his kid brother, despite there being a six-year age difference.
“They would (always) be playing a little game of tag or something,” said Lujan, adding that Santosh could often be seen chasing his big brother while Tyrese rode his bike. “Sometimes Tyrese would slow down and let (Santosh) catch him.”
Lujan said Tyrese was also known for having a love of soccer and volleyball, and had a rep for being a mean player of “Pump,” a game involving the passing of a ball to other participants without dropping it.
Lujan’s uncle said it was known by some of Tyrese’s classmates that his parents may have been headed for a break-up.
“He had mentioned it to other classmates, that his parents were splitting up, and he was having a difficult time with that,” Michael Lujan said.
A memorial outside the Mississauga home of Tyrese, Santosh, and their father Samuel Masih, who were found dead in a burned-out vehicle north of Barrie last Friday. (Terry Davidson/Toronto Sun)
Memorial growing for three dead in burned-out car | Toronto & GTA | News | Toron
I hope that the children were already dead before they were torched. :shock:
