UPDATE 7/11/2018: On July 11, 2018 Detectives from the Reedley Police Department met with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Coroners’ Office regarding the possible murder-suicide investigation that occurred on July 9th in the 400 block of East Myrtle. Autopsies were conducted on 32 year old Vera Lucia Diaz Nunez (mother) and the 21 month old female and 4 year old male who are the children of Diaz-Nunez.
The determination was made by the Coroner’s Officer that the manner of death for Vera Diaz Nunez was hanging. Her death has been ruled a suicide. The cause and manner of death for the two children has been determined to be drowning, which occurred in the bath tub at the apartment.
Upon Reedley Officer’s initial arrival to the scene on the night of July 9th, both children were found lying on the floor in the bathroom. The investigation revealed that the two children had been removed from the bathtub by the father, who located them when he returned home from work. Vera Nunez Diaz was located lying in an adjacent bedroom on the floor. The investigation revealed that she had hanged herself in the bedroom, and she was cut down and laid on the floor prior to Officer’s arrival by her husband who located her upon returning home from work.
After completing multiple interviews during this investigation, Detectives have determined that Vera Diaz Nunez drowned her 4 year old son and 21 month old daughter in the bathtub, and then went into an adjacent bedroom and committed suicide. The investigation revealed through interviews that Vera Nunez Diaz had been suffering recently from depression. Reedley Police had not had any prior contact with her or her family, and the Department had not received any prior calls for service at their residence.
There are no outstanding suspects in this investigation. Toxicology reports are still pending from the Coroner’s Office.
UPDATE: The Coroner’s Office has released the names of the mother and children involved in Monday’s case in Reedley. Vera Lucia Diaz Nunez, 32, of Reedley, Octavio Farfan Diaz, 4, of Reedley, Miranda Farfan Diaz, 21 months, of Reedley.
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Reedley Police say an autopsy will shed more light on the cause of death of a woman and her two young children, initially investigated as a murder suicide.
Officers say around 7:00p.m. Monday, July 9th, they received a medical aid call about people at an apartment on Myrtle Avenue.
According to Reedley Police Chief Joe Garza, when officers went into the apartment, they found 32-year-old Vera Lucia Diaz Nunez, her 21 month-old daughter, and 4 year-old son.
All three were unresponsive, and officers began CPR on the children and the woman but were unable to revive any of them.
They were pronounced deceased at the scene.
No other victims or suspects are being sought.
Chief Garza says an autopsy is scheduled< and it will hopefully give them more clues as to the cause of death.
Anyone with more information is asked to call the Reedley Police Department at 559-637-4250.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
