Dad in custody in murder of 13-year-old son, 9-year-old daughter; mother is hospitalized (Calgary, Canada)

UNNAMED DAD has been taken into custody in the murder of his two children. A timely police response prevented the murder of the children's mother, who has been hospitalized.

http://www.canada.com/news/children+found+dead+Calgary+home+father+custody/2280824/story.html

Two children found dead at Calgary home, father in custody

By Deborah Tetley, Michelle Butterfield and Suzanne Wilton, Calgary Herald
November 28, 2009 5:46 PM

CALGARY — The father of two children found slain at a home in Calgary on Friday night is in custody — and the city’s police chief says only the quick response of his officers saved the life a potential third victim, the children’s mother.

Police kicked down the door of a home in Calgary’s northwest and immediately found the body of a 13-year-old boy, police Chief Rick Hanson told reporters Saturday, as he revealed details about the horrific crime.

"The officers continued searching and came upon a man and woman in the upstairs part of the home. Both were involved in a physical struggle," Hanson said.

"It is our firm belief that the rapid intervention of our officers interrupted a potential homicide," he said.

The body of a nine-year-old girl was also found upstairs.

Police said the father is in custody and considered a murder suspect.

Hanson praised the action of officers, saying from the time they got the 911 call to the time they forced their way inside was only 16 minutes.

Investigators said the deaths are domestic homicides and that they aren’t looking for any other suspects.

The woman believed to be the mother of the two children remained in hospital Saturday.

Police haven’t released their names.

Cindy ten Broek said she was putting her own four children to bed Friday night when police cruisers and emergency vehicles began to arrive at a nearby home.

"I didn’t sleep at all," said ten Broek.

"I’m very upset about it."

The tragedy brought back memories of another domestic murder that devastated two families and stunned Calgarians in 2008.

Joshua Lall killed his two children, wife and a downstairs tenant before taking his own life on an otherwise quiet suburban street.

On the evening of May 27, 2008, Lall killed his wife Alison, 35, and their two daughters, Kristen, 5 1/2, and Rochelle, 3 1/2, but left a one-year-old baby unharmed. He also killed Amber Bowerman, 30, who was renting a basement suite in the house.