A top Ohio accountant, her businessman, husband and their three children, ages 15, 12 and 9, have been identified as victims of a gruesome murder-suicide.
Jason Dunham, 46, Melissa Dunham, 42, and Renee, 15, Amber, 12, and Evan, 9, were found dead Thursday night at their home on Carnation Avenue Northwest, Uniontown.
According to Harry Campbell, chief investigator for the Stark County Coroner’s Office, they all died of multiple gunshot wounds, but it remains unclear who shot whom.
The family died in what officers called a “domestic dispute turned deadly.”
Stark County police said they found the deceased while conducting a welfare check at Dunham’s address. Campbell said they were pronounced dead at 9:52 p.m.
Jason Dunham, 46, Melissa Dunham, 42, and their three children were found dead at their Uniontown home Thursday night
Renee, 15, Amber, 12, and Evan, 9, were killed in the domestic incident
A colleague who worked with Melissa Dunham said she was ‘devastated’
Neighbors said the couple had moved in before starting their family, nearly 20 years ago.
Edmond Gazdacko said the three children often played with his grandchildren when they came to visit.
Earlier this summer, the Dunham kids and his family played a baseball game in his front yard.
Gazdacko said that he and his wife Denise never had any problems with the Dunhams, and that Melissa was a great mother.
Melissa Dunham was a partner at accounting firm Bober Markey Fedorovich & Co in Fairlawn, according to LinkedIn.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Westminster College, an MBA from Kent State University, and a Master of Taxation from the University of Akron.
Her accolades include the Woman of Professional Excellence award presented by the Women’s Network and the 30 For the Future Award from the Greater Akron Chamber.
The mother-of-three’s appointment as a partner was announced in June: “With a career spanning nearly two decades at BMF, Melissa has demonstrated exceptional leadership and contributed significantly to the company’s success.”
A neighbor said that Melissa was a great mother
Officers were called to a home in the 13000 block of Carnation Avenue NW around 7:30 p.m.
A spokesperson for the school said the community has been notified but expects many to be affected
The company’s website states that it specializes in corporate tax returns, with expertise in Employer Retention Credit program refunds.
Elizabeth Bartz, CEO of Akron-based State and Federal Communications, said she was “devastated” by the news. She had known Melissa Dunham for over ten years.
“She’s a great Girl Scout mom. She always had her daughters send me their cookie order forms,” she told the newspaper Canton warehouse.
“They would personally deliver them and write me a thank you note.”
Kevin Tobin, superintendent of the local Lake County school district, confirmed Friday morning that three students died in the tragedy.
He said the kids were all students in the school district.
“We’ve alerted our parents and staff,” Tobin said.
‘We are currently consulting with supervisors and others (with students). We are working through this as calmly and compassionately as possible.”
Stark County police said they found the deceased while conducting a welfare check at the 13000 block of Carnation Avenue Northwest, Uniontown.
He explained that Renee was heavily involved with the school band that was expected to attend an away football game on Friday night.
“This is going to have an impact on them. They’re a family and it’s been almost two years since we lost another band student to surgery,” Tobin said.
“It’s a very, very tragic incident and we will stand with this as a school community and as a Lake Local community.”
The Uniontown Police Department said it is working with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Stark County Attorney General’s Office to investigate.
It is believed no one else was involved.