COLUMBUS, Ohio — Just one day after Franklin County Children Services requested the public's help in identifying relatives of three young Columbus children whose parents died in a suspected murder-suicide, the agency says they were able to find a place for them to stay.
FCCS Communications Director Scott Varner told 10TV they were able to temporarily place the children with a close family friend.
"I continue to be impressed and ever-grateful for this community when they step up to support and care for children in need," Varner said.
He added that help was coming from more than just those living in Franklin County. A couple from the Strongsville area who recognized the family name drove to the FCCS office Thursday morning to see if they could help. They also received calls from out-of-state.
FCCS was looking to identify relatives or close family friends of Sowmya Balasubramanian and Kathavarayan Balasubramanian, who were found dead at an apartment complex on Lauffer Ravines Drive.
The family had no prior history with FCCS before Tuesday's incident.
“These young people have already been through a lot of trauma, and our hope is that by placing them with somebody who they’re familiar with, somebody that is in their neighborhood, or somebody that they can identify with, that that will help with some of the trauma in what has already been a very traumatic experience," said Scott Varner, communications director for FCCS.
Officers with the Columbus Division of Police were called to the apartment complex around 5:30 p.m. for a well-being check. Sgt. Joseph Albert said someone called for the check after noticing their neighbors' two young children waiting outside their apartment for several hours. The youngest was left waiting at a school, police say.
When officers arrived, they gained entry into the apartment with help from maintenance and found the two parents dead with apparent gunshot wounds. A gun was found inside the apartment, Albert said.