Dad killed two kids, their mom in murder-suicide (Kenai, Alaska)

Once again, a family in total denial that a male member of their family would slaughter a woman and children.

Dad is identified as BRANDON JIVIDEN.

http://www.adn.com/article/20150603/missing-family-likely-died-murder-suicide-kenai-police-say

Missing family likely died in murder-suicide, Kenai police say
Megan Edge| June 3, 2015

Findings from the State Medical Examiner Office suggest a family of four, missing on the Kenai Peninsula for nearly a year before their remains were discovered in March, were the victims of a murder-suicide, Kenai police said Wednesday.

In a release, the Kenai Police Department said the findings are consistent with findings from their own investigation and that of the FBI, which indicate that “Brandon Jividen shot and killed Rebecca Adams, Michelle Hundley, Jaracca Hundley, the dog Sparks and then committed suicide by shooting himself."

The mystery surrounding the family's disappearance may have come to a close, but family members said Wednesday they’re far from finding closure.

“We thought there would be closure when we buried them,” Rebecca Adams’ uncle Dennis Gifford said. “But no. I don’t even know what closure is.”

The family went missing on May 31, 2014.

Family, friends, volunteers and law enforcement searched for months for signs of their whereabouts but came up empty-handed -- until March, when remains were discovered in a low, grassy area about 15 yards off a trail packed down for vehicles and four-wheelers.

On Wednesday, police said investigators found two handguns “in close proximity” to Jividen’s remains, five spent shell casings and fired bullets.

Rebecca Adams’ aunt Kim Gifford said when the family went missing, a conclusion like this was “the furthest thing” from her mind.

“As we learned more information, this path was one we saw, but we prayed it wouldn’t be it,” Dennis Gifford said. “Brandon’s mom and sister have become a part of our family and we love them dearly. We hoped none of this would happen.”

The Kenai Police Department said any theory about a motive at this point would only be “speculative.”

In a statement, the family of Jividen expressed condolences to the families of Adams and the Hundleys and said the result of the investigation "was not what our family had anticipated."

"These acts are unthinkable, unimaginable, and not consistent with the father, son, brother, and friend that so many of us knew and loved," the statement said.

Kenai police declined to provide any additional comment on the case Wednesday.