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Could family have been attacked?
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| The Kehoe family, (clockwise from bottom) Seth, Michelle, Sean, and Eugene Kehoe. |
By Jack Swanson
LITTLETON - Although there have been reports that the mother of a toddler found dead in the woods near Littleton, has told investigators that she and her two sons were attacked by a man with a knife, that report would not be confirmed Wednesday afternoon.
"I won't comment. As a rule we don't comment on witnesses' statements in an investigation of this type," said Jessica Lown
According to a report from the Associated Press, Division of Criminal Investigation agent Jeff Jacobson said that Michelle Kehoe told police officers at the scene on Monday about the alleged attack.
An autopsy on Tuesday found that 2-year-old Seth Kehoe died of cuts made with a sharp instrument. His death is being ruled a homicide.
His 7-year-old brother was reported to be in stable condition, according to Buchanan County officials, after undergoing surgery for his injuries. Michelle was also injured and also required surgery. No condition report was available for her.
All three were discovered when Michelle Kehoe walked to a Littleton house on Monday and asked for help, saying her children were in danger.
"From the beginning we looked at a number of possibilities," Lown said, admitting that "One scenario was that the family could have been attacked by an individual."
She said it was "premature" at this point to say for sure what they believe happened to the family.
"I just want to emphasize that this is only one of several possibilities. It doesn't mean we are excluding the other scenarios. Our agents are doing there best to keep their minds open and let the evidence lead them down the appropriate path," she related.
Lown said two officers for sure have been assigned to the case but that there might be as many as five working on it.
"It's been pretty intense. We need to make sure we address all the resources we can so that eventually there will be a prosecution of someone," she said.
Grief counselors were on-site at Iowa City's Regina Elementary School, where Sean is a first grader, and where the Kehoes had talked about sending their younger son, Seth.
The principal at Regina, Celeste Vincent, says students and staff are keeping their spirits high, despite the tragedy surrounding the Kehoe family. "The mood has actually been proactive and positive," said Vincent.
At 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Iowa State Patrol and EMS arrived at “Hook N Liner Pond” near Littleton, where the Kehoe family mini-van was located. Upon arrival, law enforcement found Seth dead near his family’s mini-van. Sean was found inside the mini-van suffering from serious injuries. Authorities transported Sean to a Waterloo hospital. Michelle was taken by air ambulance to Iowa City.
Eugene Kehoe reported his family missing Sunday night after they left that morning to visit relatives in Sumner. They were last seen about 12:30 p.m. in Jesup.
This has been the second time the woman and her children were involved in a potentially life-threatening situation. In December 2007, Kehoe was driving a car carrying the boys when it plunged into the icy Iowa River. All were saved with help from bystanders. Michelle Kehoe said at the time that her sons had distracted her while she was driving, causing her to lose control of the car.
Buchanan County Attorney Al VanderHart said he wasn't familiar with the earlier matter but didn't think it was connected to Monday's events.
"Whatever incident that entailed has no bearing on this investigation," he said.
Authorities are asking anyone who saw the van from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning, to contact the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department at 319-334-2568.
"I won't comment. As a rule we don't comment on witnesses' statements in an investigation of this type," said Jessica Lown
According to a report from the Associated Press, Division of Criminal Investigation agent Jeff Jacobson said that Michelle Kehoe told police officers at the scene on Monday about the alleged attack.
An autopsy on Tuesday found that 2-year-old Seth Kehoe died of cuts made with a sharp instrument. His death is being ruled a homicide.
His 7-year-old brother was reported to be in stable condition, according to Buchanan County officials, after undergoing surgery for his injuries. Michelle was also injured and also required surgery. No condition report was available for her.
All three were discovered when Michelle Kehoe walked to a Littleton house on Monday and asked for help, saying her children were in danger.
"From the beginning we looked at a number of possibilities," Lown said, admitting that "One scenario was that the family could have been attacked by an individual."
She said it was "premature" at this point to say for sure what they believe happened to the family.
"I just want to emphasize that this is only one of several possibilities. It doesn't mean we are excluding the other scenarios. Our agents are doing there best to keep their minds open and let the evidence lead them down the appropriate path," she related.
Lown said two officers for sure have been assigned to the case but that there might be as many as five working on it.
"It's been pretty intense. We need to make sure we address all the resources we can so that eventually there will be a prosecution of someone," she said.
Grief counselors were on-site at Iowa City's Regina Elementary School, where Sean is a first grader, and where the Kehoes had talked about sending their younger son, Seth.
The principal at Regina, Celeste Vincent, says students and staff are keeping their spirits high, despite the tragedy surrounding the Kehoe family. "The mood has actually been proactive and positive," said Vincent.
At 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Iowa State Patrol and EMS arrived at “Hook N Liner Pond” near Littleton, where the Kehoe family mini-van was located. Upon arrival, law enforcement found Seth dead near his family’s mini-van. Sean was found inside the mini-van suffering from serious injuries. Authorities transported Sean to a Waterloo hospital. Michelle was taken by air ambulance to Iowa City.
Eugene Kehoe reported his family missing Sunday night after they left that morning to visit relatives in Sumner. They were last seen about 12:30 p.m. in Jesup.
This has been the second time the woman and her children were involved in a potentially life-threatening situation. In December 2007, Kehoe was driving a car carrying the boys when it plunged into the icy Iowa River. All were saved with help from bystanders. Michelle Kehoe said at the time that her sons had distracted her while she was driving, causing her to lose control of the car.
Buchanan County Attorney Al VanderHart said he wasn't familiar with the earlier matter but didn't think it was connected to Monday's events.
"Whatever incident that entailed has no bearing on this investigation," he said.
Authorities are asking anyone who saw the van from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning, to contact the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department at 319-334-2568.
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