Police: Missouri fire that killed a woman and her 4 children was a murder-suicide

FERGUSON, Mo. — A fire that killed five members of a Missouri family was deliberately set by the mother, police said.

St. Louis County police announced late Wednesday that a preliminary investigation has revealed the deaths of Bernadine Pruessner, her 9-year-old twin daughters Ivy and Lillie Pruessner, and her children, 5-year-old Jackson Spader and 2-year-old Millie. Spader was a murder-suicide.

Police Sgt. Tracy Panus said in an email that investigators believe Bernadine Pruessner, 39, set a mattress on fire. “A note was also left stating Bernadine’s intentions to take her and her children’s lives,” Panus said.

Responding firefighters found the Ferguson home in flames at 4:23 a.m. Monday. Neighbors had tried to save the family, but the fire was too intense.

EDITOR’S NOTE — If you or someone you know needs help, the US National Suicide and Crisis Hotline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org