Dad in "custody dispute" kills 2-year-old daughter in murder-suicide? (St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana)

I saw a news item on this yesterday, but held off on posting it till there was more information. Though the police are gauging their comments carefully, this is a likely murder-suicide. All the classic red flags are there: 1) Father with a history of domestic violence who just broke up with the mother, AND 2) A looming "custody battle" on Daddy's part for control of the child.

Still an UNNAMED DAD.

UPDATE: It is now being said that an older son killed the father and his half-sister after years of abuse. Interesting turn of events. But why would the boy would have killed a 2-year-old girl? Doesn't add up....

http://www.wwl.com/Toddler--man-found-dead-on-Northshore/18115731

Posted: Monday, 06 January 2014 11:08AM

Toddler, man shot dead on Northshore

WWL.com Reporting

A man and a child are dead on the Northshore.

Police say a woman found her two-year-old girl and the child's father dead in the house on Carnation Street near Abita Springs.

It happened in the Abita Nursery subdivision this morning in St. Tammany Parish.

Sheriff Jack Strain says both the girl and the father died from apparent gunshot wounds.

He says they are currently working the case as "a double homicide."

Strain noted, however, until they get more information; "it is still quite possible it was a murder-suicide."

The coroner is conducting autopsies.

The sheriff says the parents were in the middle of a custody dispute and noted there have been domestic violence and mental health calls to the home.