SPENCER TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Two young children were found out in the cold after their mother, who was reportedly suffering from postpartum depression, was found dead from a suspected suicide, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Department.
Investigators confirm to FOX 17 the two children, a 3-year-old girl and 5-month-old boy, were found by someone walking their dog Saturday morning on a trail in the area of Lincoln Lake Avenue NE and 18 Mile Road.
The children's mother was found dead just outside her parked vehicle with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Police said the little girl was found partially laying on her mother's body while the boy was in a car seat inside the vehicle.
The car was parked and running and had likely been there since sometime Christmas Day, police said.
Police said it appears the 27-year-old mother parked the car and left it running before getting out and killing herself.
The two children were taken to the hospital and treated for hypothermia, but are expected to be OK. While at the hospital it was discovered the 3-year-old girl had been injured and a fragment of a bullet was lodged in her head. She was taken to surgery where doctors successfully removed it.
The 3-year-old girl might have been hit by the bullet accidentally, but police said they will likely never be able to confirm if she was an intended target.
Family reported the mother and two children missing around midnight last night.
An autopsy will be performed to officially confirm how the woman died, but investigators said there were strong indications at the scene suggesting it was suicide.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help her family.
