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A father and daughter were found dead in their home in upstate New York in what authorities are calling a murder-suicide just days after the girl’s mother reported that her husband was stalking her.
Ava Wood, 14, was found in a separate bedroom from her father Christopher Wood, 51, at their home in Baldwinsville, both with apparently self-inflicted fatal gunshot wounds to the head.
Police discovered the tragedy after conducting a welfare check at the home after Ava’s mother, whose identity remains unknown, said there was no answer at the door and her 14-year-old daughter had not gone to the school.
The devastating murder came just days after Ava’s mother said her estranged husband had been sending harassing text messages and a stalking incident that took place in March of last year.
Ava Wood (left), 14, and her father Christopher Wood, 51, were found dead at their home in upstate New York, both with gunshot wounds to the head, police said theirs were self-inflicted.
She told police she had spoken to Christopher on the phone Thursday night and claims he said: “This is how it ends for us.”
Baldwinsville Police Chief Michael Lefancheck and County Sheriff Toby Shelley held a news conference at noon Friday to announce the deaths.
“The shooting of Mr. Wood appears to be self-inflicted,” Lefancheck said.
The sheriff’s office is aware of the weapon used, but not whether Wood had a permit for it.
The Baldwinsville Police Department (BPD) and the Sheriff’s office are currently working to come up with an accurate timeline of the incident.
So far they have said a woman made a 911 call around 8:31 a.m. Friday morning to request a status check at 6 Triangle Place after her daughter failed to show up for school Friday.
The woman reported that there were cars in the driveway of the home but they did not answer at the door, according to dispatchers despite knowing that her daughter was home with her father.
Police discovered the tragedy after conducting a welfare check at the Baldwinsville home (pictured) after Ava’s mother, whose identity remains unknown, said they did not answer the door and that her 14-year-old daughter he had not gone to school.
The Baldwinsville Police Department (BPD) and Sheriff’s office are currently working to come up with an accurate timeline for the incident, but have so far said a 911 call was made by a woman around 8:31 a.m. Friday morning. , which led to the shocking discovery.
Ava lived mainly with her father in the Triangle Place house. Her parents were still married, but they were separated and did not live together, police said.
The mother and father had been involved in two previous domestic incidents, Shelley said.
The most recent took place just two days ago after the father sent harassing text messages to the mother, while a previous incident was in March 2022 and involved bullying.
Ava was a freshman at Durgee Junior High School in Baldwinsville and was very involved in school, especially athletics.
Her social media accounts paint the picture of a fun-loving teen who enjoyed spending time with friends.
Friends and community members paid tribute to the 14-year-old high school student on her Instagram account.
Ava was a freshman at Durgee Junior High School in Baldwinsville and was very involved in school, especially athletics.
Her social media accounts paint the picture of a fun-loving teen who enjoyed spending time with friends (left), many of whom paid tribute after learning of her tragic murder (right)
Ava’s Instagram only has a few featured photos on the account, but it shows the young woman and her friends spending time together.
Meanwhile, the Baldwinsville Central School District has implemented crisis counseling for students and canceled all extracurricular activities.
“It is important to allow children to talk about their grief experiences and what they need during this tragic time,” Acting Superintendent Joseph M. DeBarbieri said in a statement.
‘The counselors urge you to listen to your child’s concerns and questions. After breaking this difficult news to his son, if he feels he needs additional support, our counselors will be available to provide resources and strategies.’
He added: ‘We are a tight-knit school community, and our hearts are broken by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with Ava’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time.”
An investigation into the incident is still ongoing.