Police on Friday said they were looking at a murder-suicide scenario in the death of a Michigan mother and her two sons, who were found slain hours after the boys' father caused a fatal wrong-way collision.
Linda Vanderlinden, 34, was killed by strangulation and also suffered a stab wound to the chest, Van Buren Township Police Capt. Greg Laurain told the Daily News.
Her two sons, Julian, 7, and Matthew, 4, died of multiple stab wounds to the arms and chest.
The family was found murdered in their Belleville, Mich., home when police went to notify them that father, Michael Vanderlinden, 38, had died in a wrong-way crash that he had caused.
Vanderlinden collided head-on with Juan Nelson, 45, on Interstate 94 near Michigan City, Ind. Both men died instantly.
Witnesses told Indiana investigators that Vanderlinden did not appear to have his headlights on in the early Thursday crash.
Police are looking at a murder-suicide scenario.
"We are still pursuing leads and not solely focusing on the husband, even though everything points to him," Laurain told the News.
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He said the murder weapon, an 8.5-inch knife, was found in the home. The coroner's office, however, could not establish a time of death for Linda Vanderliden and the boys.
Police said the door was unlocked when they arrived at the well-manicured home in a quiet suburb not far from Detroit.
There was no police history at the house except for an animal control call and a medical assistance call last December. In that incident, paramedics came to the house because Vanderlinden had taken an overdose of pills, apparently in a suicide attempt, police said.
A Facebook memorial page in honor of Linda and the two boys is filled with outpourings of sorrow.
"Linda was my neighbor when they lived in NC. She was a beautiful spirit. amazing mother and a wonderful friend. I can't recall ever seeing her without a smile on her face. I was blessed to have known her," Darla Peevey Kuhne wrote.
vcavaliere@nydailynews.com
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