A North Carolina father has been charged with murder after police made a horrific discovery during a welfare check - the bodies of his two young children in the boot of his car.
The disturbing case unfolded in Laurinburg, Scotland County, where officers responded to concerns about the welfare of two children on Tuesday. What they found would send shockwaves through the local community.
Police discovered the bodies of a five-year-old girl and her seven-year-old brother in the boot of a vehicle belonging to their 34-year-old father, Avianna Ocasio. The children were pronounced dead at the scene.
Their father now faces two counts of first-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Scotland County Detention Center. The investigation remains active as authorities work to determine the circumstances leading to this tragedy.
The Laurinburg Police Department confirmed they had responded to a call about the children's welfare earlier in the day. When officers located Mr Ocasio's vehicle, they made the devastating discovery that has left the small North Carolina community in mourning.
Neighbours and local residents expressed shock and heartbreak at the news, with many struggling to comprehend how such a tragedy could occur in their community. The case has raised difficult questions about child welfare and domestic violence.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding what led to this unthinkable crime and ensuring justice for the two young victims whose lives were cut tragically short.
