Murder-Suicide or Something Else? Family of Four Found Dead at Home – The Full Story

A family member found four bodies on the morning of January 24, leading authorities to investigate a suspected murder-suicide. Paul Swarner, his wife Karen, and their two young children, Evelyn and Connor, were found dead in their Hempfield Township home.

Source: Facebook/ka.pow.319

The Westmoreland County Coroner’s report and police records show that Karen’s father made the tragic discovery. Concerned after not being able to reach them on January 23, a day they usually communicated regularly, he decided to check on them. On January 24, he found the family and called 911.

Pennsylvania State Trooper Steve Limani shared in a press conference that early evidence suggests Paul killed his wife and children before turning a Ruger .22 handgun on himself. The official cause of death has not been confirmed by the coroner’s report. Karen died at 4:35 a.m. on January 24, and Paul passed away at 4:40 a.m. The bodies of all four were found in the same room.

Limani expressed his heartbreak over the situation: “To be honest with you, I don’t have the words to describe how awful it is. You’re talking about your wife, but then a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old. It’s just devastating.”

Officers revealed that the last person to speak with Karen, 32, on January 22 didn’t mention any signs of trouble in the family. There were no signs of distress or concerns about safety, so investigators are now working to find a motive for the tragedy. They hope that a baby monitor or other electronics in the house may offer clues about what led to the deaths. However, Limani emphasized that no answer could ever lessen the pain for the family.

The investigation so far has found no criminal records or prior domestic violence incidents involving Paul, 35, or Karen. “I don’t know what was going on with Paul. I don’t know why it would have happened. I hope we’re able to find some answers. It’s extremely, extremely sad,” Limani said.

The trooper also mentioned that Paul and Karen, who had been married for about 10 years, appeared to be well-established in their careers. Their home seemed like the typical “all-American” home, with toys for the kids, family photos, and other signs of a loving family life.

Neighbor Dick Shawley shared that he didn’t hear anything unusual, but saw police outside the house. Although he wasn’t close to the family, he remembered giving the children Christmas gifts and playing Santa for them. “They were always jumping around and happy. I played Santa over there. And, I’ll never get it out of my mind. Such devastation. Such precious life,” Shawley said.

The deaths of Paul, Karen, Evelyn, and Connor mark the second murder-suicide in Westmoreland County since December 2024. While Limani doesn’t have answers for this tragedy, he encouraged families to stay connected, talk openly about struggles, and seek help for mental health issues. He emphasized how important it is to maintain strong family bonds and ask for support when needed.