Texas Murder-Suicide: Man Strangles Wife, Attempts To Kill Sons Before Hanging Self

A man in Texas killed his wife and tried to strangle his two sons, before hanging himself to death in a murder-suicide case.

Deputies arrived at the home in Sugar Land, Texas, a suburb of Houston, Friday and found the bodies of the man and his wife, CBS-affiliated KHOU-TV reported. The man was identified as Benjamin Okigbo and his wife was Theresa Okigbo.

Authorities said Sunday that Benjamin fatally strangled his wife and then tried to kill his two 21-year-old sons. However, the sons survived the attack. Paramedics arrived at the scene and took the sons to a hospital, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident came to light when the couple's daughter, who does not reside at the home, went to the residence to check on the family.

A neighbor told the news outlet the couple, who were in their 50s, had lived in the residence for nearly 20 years.

Police said an investigation was underway into the incident. The motive for the attack was not clear.

On Friday, the rector of The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Houston notified the congregation of the deaths.

"The causes for grief in 2020 seem to multiply. I am very sad to inform you that Ben and Theresa Okigbo died this morning at their home in Sugarland. Their sons Peter and Paul were transported to Memorial Sugarland Hospital, but have since been released.

"Currently, they are with their sister Laura, in the care of their uncle, Ben Okoh. This news is absolutely devastating for our Epiphany family, especially for many of our Nigerian members, whose lives and hearts were touched so profoundly by Ben and Theresa. We have no good answers, only broken hearts to bring to our Lord Jesus. And there is no better place for our broken hearts to be, than in his care," a statement posted on their Facebook page said.

Last week, in another murder-suicide incident in Texas, a 43-year-old woman fatally shot her 10-year-old son and injured her 16-year-old daughter before killing herself. The woman, Chelsee Dodd, and her son, Trace Dodd, were declared dead at the scene, while the daughter was rushed to a hospital after she was found conscious and breathing.