GLENDALE, MO (KTVI) – Funeral services for two children reportedly killed by their mother in an alleged murder-suicide will be laid to rest on Saturday. Private services will take place Saturday at the Cathedral Basilica in the Central West End. Burial will be in Kirkwood.
More than two days into the investigation of a reported murder-suicide in Glendale, detectives still weren’t willing to say with certainty that Catherine Murch killed her two young children then turned a gun on herself.
Major Case Squad Deputy Commander, Lt. Tim Fagan said Wednesday afternoon that his detectives could be in place in Glendale into the weekend. He says there is “critical information” he is waiting on before he’s willing to weigh in on exactly what happened.
The shootings happened just before 11am Monday. Mitch Murch, II called police twice. In the first call he reported hearing gunshots. In the second, he told police his wife Catherine had shot their daughter Mary-Claire, 9, and their son Mitchell, 11, then turned the gun on herself.
Police arrived at the home to find Murch performing CPR on his son. The two kids were taken to the hospital where they died. Catherine Murch was pronounced dead at the scene. Police confirmed Wednesday that no kind of suicide note was ever discovered.
The Greater St. Louis Major Case Squad was activated that day. Mitch Murch was questioned by investigators for about seven hours, then left. Police confirm an attorney arrived during the questioning to represent Murch.
Murch left the police station sometime that evening, and detectives say he has not been questioned by them since.
Asked Tuesday if Murch was in any way a suspect in the case, Lt. Fagan said, “At this time I do not consider him a suspect.”
Fagan reiterated that statement on Wednesday.
We asked Fagan if he was concerned that drawing out the investigation was placing a negative, even suspicious light on Mitch Murch. He said he hoped that it wasn’t the case, but he went on to tell us that was secondary to him.
“We need to do what we need to do correctly,” he said as he explained they are purposely taking things slowly in the investigation.
More info: Police: Husband Not Suspect In Glendale Shooting Deaths
