The community of St. Walburg is reeling after the bodies of a man, woman and child were found in an area ditch.
Names were not released by RCMP police, but family members released a statement to the media confirming the deceased are Darren Wourms, 26, his wife Hayley, 23, and son Cayden, age 2. The three are from Airdrie, Alta.
According to the family, Darren had been battling depression for some time.
In a media release Tuesday from RCMP, members with the St. Walburg detachment received a call around 1:20 p.m. Monday that three deceased persons had been located in a ditch next to a rural grid road to the northwest of the town. RCMP say the call came from a motorist who was driving on that grid road.
RCMP said they went to the scene and found the bodies of an adult male, an adult female and a male child.
The scene was secured immediately, said police, and assistance came from the major crimes units in Saskatoon, from the forensic identification section in Saskatoon and North Battleford, as well was from Police Dog Services in North Battleford. The provincial coroner was contacted as well. A traffic analyst was scheduled to be on site Tuesday to take aerial pictures.
According to the RCMP a.22 rifle caliber was seized from the scene.
Airdrie RCMP released a statement confirming there was a related call for service recently in Airdrie pertaining to the family.
RCMP responded to a third party 911 call April 24 indicating other family members were concerned for the well being of the 26-year-old man and his family.
Following an investigation he was transported to hospital in Calgary for a psychiatric evaluation.
The investigation did not warrant any criminal charges at the time, said Airdrie RCMP. Partner agencies were assisting the family during this period.
In a statement the family confirmed Darren Wourms had been admitted for a psychiatric evaluation and had been released. He was released with medication and follow-up and was scheduled or another meeting with a counselor May 28.
The family has asked the media for privacy during this time.
The investigation into the deaths is continuing. Autopsies were scheduled to be conducted Tuesday in Saskatoon.
