Eight family members, including five children, were found dead in a Utah home in a murder-suicide

(CNN) — A family of eight died Wednesday in Enoch, Utah, after they were shot inside their home in a murder-suicide, according to a news release from City Manager Rob Dodson.

“Resources indicate that the suspect took his own life after killing seven people in the home,” Dodson said.

Dodson identified the suspect as 42-year-old Michael Hyde. His wife, Tausha Hyde, 40, and his mother, Gail Earle, 78, were two adults, according to the statement.

The other victims were the couple’s five children: girls aged 17, 12 and 7 and boys aged 7 and 4.

“We join everyone who is deeply saddened by this tragic incident and wish to extend our condolences to the families and friends of the victims,” ​​Dodson said.

Police responded to the Enoch City home, about 240 miles south of Salt Lake City, on Jan. 4 to respond to a well-being check requested by family and friends who had not heard from the victim, according to the release.

The family, whose father was killed in their Utah home, was known to police prior to the murder-suicide, according to a news conference with local authorities.

“We know the family, yes,” Chief Jackson Ames told local reporters.

“Two years ago we had some inquiries with the family,” he said, but declined to comment on the nature of the interactions.

City Manager Rob Dodson said the family was going through a divorce, but Enoch Mayor Jeffrey Chesnut would not say there was a reason, saying investigators were still looking into the possibilities.

“The information we have is that a divorce has been filed and the hearing is ongoing at this time,” Chestnut said. “According to court documents, he appeared on December 21 and was arraigned by his wife.”

Dodson said the family welfare check was requested after the suspect’s wife, Tausha Hyde, missed an appointment Wednesday morning. Hours after that request, Tausha still could not be found, and a missing person report was requested from the Cedar City Police Department, where the suspect’s office is located.

Cedar City police forwarded the report to Enoch City police, Dodson said, who eventually tracked down the deceased family.

Authorities have not released when the shooting happened, but said Tausha and one of the couple’s daughters were seen at a church ceremony the night before the family was found.

Autopsies will be performed by the state medical examiner’s office, Dodson said.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox asked the public to keep the Enoch community in their prayers.

“Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless act of violence,” Cox said in a statement. Tweet On Wednesday.

Utah Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson also offered his condolences Tweet “What a tragedy. I pray for the Enoch community tonight.”

— CNN’s Amanda Musa, Aya Elamrouzi and Chris Boyd contributed to this report.