3 Children Found Dead Inside Unplugged Freezer, Investigation Underway

Bodies of three children were found inside an unplugged freezer of a home in Live Oak, Florida, on Sunday. The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office said Monday the children - aged one, four and six years old - likely died of suffocation.

Deputies arrived at the home on 173rd Place on Sunday evening to find family members performing CPR on the children, who were all unresponsive. They were transported to the Shands Live Oak Regional Medical Center where doctors declared them dead.

"Words can't describe ... (this) tragedy, how heartbroken I am," Suwannee County Sheriff Sam St. John said. "Any time you deal with children and something like this and when they die from something like this nature, it just tugs at your heartstrings. Words can’t describe this and the only thing we can do is go forward."

According to investigators, the children were playing outside in the yard and may have climbed inside the chest freezer which the family recently brought to the mobile home. It was outside and not plugged in when the incident took place.

Authorities said the woman watching the children - who was also mother of the 4-year-old - went inside the home to use the washroom but when she returned, she could not see the children. The woman, along with another member in the house, looked for the kids. After more than 30 minutes of search, they found the children inside the freezer, not breathing.

"Upon further inspection of the freezer, an after-market hasp had been installed on the lid in order to secure a padlock on it. It is believed at this time that when the children entered the freezer and the lid closed, the hasp fell shut, trapping the children inside," the Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook.

"There are two families that live in the same residence. There’s a grandmother who lives there. She is a grandmother of the 1-year-old and 6-year-old. The other lady who lives there, she is the actual mother to the 4-year-old girl," St. John explained.

Authorities said the investigation was ongoing and the case would be forwarded to the Third Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office for review. The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified of the children's deaths.

It remained unclear if any charges would be filed against the members of the family as it is against Florida law to leave or discard appliances outside a home.

"First of all, make sure you know where your children are at all times, especially younger kids like this," St. John said. "Maybe we can get the word out for anyone who has these around their residence -- please be aware of it. There’s a Florida (statute) against it. Please dispose of it properly or take the lid off of it."

The Suwannee Primary School released a statement Monday confirming one of the victims was a student.

"We are saddened by the loss in our school community. As many of you are aware, one of our SPS students died Sunday, January 13th. Attached are materials you may find useful in understanding grief in young children. If there is anything we can do to support your child or family during this difficult time, please do not hesitate to contact the school," the school wrote in the statement posted on its Facebook page.