News Desk: In a quiet neighborhood of a small city in western Connecticut, a mother strangled her three children to death before taking her own life, police said Thursday.
A preliminary investigation shows that Sonia Loja, 36, killed her children, Junior Panjon, 12, Joselyn Panjon, 10 and Jonael Panjon, 5, Wednesday before killing herself, Danbury Police Detective Capt. Mark Williams said.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed Thursday afternoon that the three children died by strangulation while Loja died by hanging. Williams said Loja was found in a shed in the backyard.
The medical examiner will also conduct toxicology testing, which usually takes a few weeks.
“A truly horrible event occurred in our city yesterday and we mourn the tragic loss of life,” Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito said. He added that Danbury Public Schools and the city will provide mental health and counseling services in the coming days.
“Our community grieves for the innocent lives taken from us,” Esposito said in a statement. “We will get through this together.”
Loja was twice cited in June for operating an illegal day care out of the Whaley Street home, according to Maggie Adair, director of community relations for the state Office of Early Childhood. Loja was believed to have stopped operating the day care at the end of June, Adair said.
Two of the children who were killed were students at Danbury Public Schools, Superintendent Kevin Walston said Thursday.
“Our thoughts are with everyone in the Danbury community impacted by this tragedy and we are grieving with you,” Walston said. “Losing children to violence is becoming far too common in our nation and events such as these shine a light on the challenges communities face, specifically around mental health, that leave so many people vulnerable.”
