Sisters found dead in River Falls home identified
By The Associated Press and Journal Sentinel staff
River Falls - Police on Wednesday morning released the names of the three young girls who authorities say were killed at their home on Tuesday by their father.
Amara Schaffhausen, 11, and sisters Sophie, 8, and Cecilia Lee, 5, were found dead about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in their home in the 2700 block of Morningside Ave. after the girls' mother, who was away, called River Falls police Tuesday and asked officers to check on them. The mother was concerned because their father had called her and the conversation made her concerned for the girls' safety, police said.
When officers arrived, the house smelled of gas and they found the bodies of the girls.
No one else was home, police said.
The girls' father, Aaron Schaffhausen, 34, turned himself in at the police department about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday.
He is being held at the St. Croix County Jail on three counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Formal charges are pending, and Schaffhausen could make his initial court appearance later Wednesday.
The cause of the girls' deaths has not yet been released. The St. Croix County Medical Examiner's office said Wednesday morning it was still conducting its investigation.
Court records show Aaron and Jessica L. Schaffhausen filed for divorce last year, and it was finalized in January.
Jessica Schaffhausen is assisting police in the investigation, according to a news release issued by the City of River Falls.
The slayings are under investigation by the River Falls Police Department, St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, Pierce County Sheriff's Department, University of Wisconsin-River Falls Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation and the State Crime Lab.
The city said efforts were being made to organize support services for community members dealing with the tragedy.
Meanwhile, a Girl Scouts troop is planning a vigil Wednesday night for the three sisters.
Julie Matzke's 7-year-old daughter was in Girl Scouts with one of the sisters. Matzke describes the girl as an energetic, beautiful, little spirit who was taken too soon. She has created a Facebook page in the girls' honor.
Matzke set up the vigil at 7 p.m. in Glen Park.
River Falls is about 30 miles east of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/father-jailed-after-3-girls-found-dead-in-river-falls-home-4h633ub-162060745.html
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